METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALPHABET INPUT

• US 20100289747A1
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shelko Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Shelko Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Jong Min, PARK, Ju Gun, OH, Jong Min, OH, Jong Hyok
• Granted Patent: US 8,576,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method and apparatus for inputting letters by combining basic elements obtained by separating and symbolizing strokes of letters, so as to provide excellent letter intuitiveness and recognition. According to the present invention, a letter may be input by pressing one of or sequentially pressing two of keys to which basic elements u, I, n, ⊂, l, ⊃, , †, , _, and o obtained by separating and symbolizing strokes of letters are assigned, and letters may be rapidly and conveniently input by minimizing key pressing paths.

Claims

1. A method of inputting letters, the method comprising:

pressing one of or sequentially pressing two of basic elements u, I, n ⊂

, l ⊃

, , †

, _, and o obtained by separating and symbolizing strokes of letters;

determining a letter corresponding to the pressed basic element or the sequentially pressed basic elements; and

displaying the determined letter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the determined letter comprises at least one of:

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

l as the letter a;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and ⊃

as the letter b;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element ⊂

as the letter c;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

I as the letter d;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element _ as the letter e;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element as the letter f;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

as the letter g;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and n as the letter h;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element l as the letter i;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element as the letter j;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and ⊂

as the letter k;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element I as the letter l;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element n as the letter m;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element n as the letter n;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element o as the letter o;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements † and

⊃

as the letter p;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

_ as the letter q;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements l and _ as the letter r;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

⊃

as the letter s;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element †

as the letter t;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element u as the letter u;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element l as the letter v;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element u as the letter w;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊃ and

⊂

as the letter x;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements l and as the letter y; and

recognizing double pressing of the basic element _ as the letter z.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the displaying of the determined letter further comprises at least one of:

recognizing single pressing of the basic element ⊃

as the letter b;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements and _ as the letter f;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element o as the letter s;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements _ and t as the letter t;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements u and as alphabet y; and

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements l and †

as the letter y.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the basic element I is used as a center element,

wherein the basic elements I, †

, ⊂

, and ⊃

are respectively assigned to top, bottom, left, and right sides of the center element, and

wherein the letters a, b, d, k, p, and q are recognized by sequentially pressing two neighboring keys in the same direction and order as the writing direction and order thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the basic elements u and n are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element I,

wherein the basic elements and are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element †

, and

wherein the letters h, g, and y are recognized by sequentially pressing two neighboring keys in the same direction and order as the writing direction and order thereof.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the basic elements and are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element I,

wherein the basic elements u and n are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element \, and

wherein the letters g and y are recognized by sequentially pressing two neighboring keys.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein a first key is comprised in addition to keys to which the basic elements u, I, n, ⊂

, l, ⊃

, , †

, , _, and o are assigned, and

wherein subsequent key pressing of the first key determines each letter after a single key is pressed.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein a second key is comprised in addition to keys to which the basic elements u, I, n, ⊂

, l, ⊃

, , †

, , _, and o are assigned,

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter a is recognized, the letter a is sequentially changed into at least one of “

A, á

, Á

, ä

, Ä

”

,

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter e is recognized, the letter e is sequentially changed into at least one of “

E, é

, É

”

,

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter i is recognized, the letter i is sequentially changed into at least one of “

I, í

, Í

”

,

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter o is recognized, the letter o is sequentially changed into at least one of “

O, ó

, Ó

, ö

, Ö

”

,

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter u is recognized, the letter u is sequentially changed into at least one of “

U, ú

, Ú

, ü

, Ü

”

, and

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter n is recognized, the letter n is sequentially changed into at least one of “

N, ñ

, Ñ

”

.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein sequential pressing of the basic elements I and o is recognized as an exclamation mark (!);

wherein sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊃ and

o is recognized as a question mark (?);

wherein double pressing of the basic element o is recognized as a period (.);

wherein double pressing of the basic element ⊃

is recognized as a comma (,); and

wherein sequential pressing of the basic elements o and ⊂

is recognized as an at mark (@).

10. The method of claim 2, wherein subsequent basic elements that are available to be pressed to input letters after an initial basic element is pressed are visually identified from other non-available basic elements.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein subsequent basic elements that are available to be pressed to input letters after an initial basic element is pressed are visually identified from other non-available basic elements.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the available basic elements are visually identified by using at least one of a backlight, an inversed color, and a different color.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a touchpad apparatus is formed by using the basic element l as a center element, respectively assigning the basic elements I, †

, ⊂

, and ⊃

to top, bottom, left and right sides of the center element, respectively assigning the basic elements u and n to left and right sides of the basic element I, and respectively assigning the basic elements and to left and right sides of the basic element †

, and

wherein the touchpad apparatus recognizes;

dragging from the basic element ⊂

to the basic element l as the letter a;

dragging from the basic element I to the basic element ⊃

as the letter b;

single touching of the basic element ⊂

as the letter c;

dragging from the basic element ⊂

to the basic element I as the letter d;

single touching of the basic element _ as the letter e;

single touching of the basic element as the letter f;

dragging from the basic element ⊂

to the basic element as the letter g;

dragging from the basic element I to the basic element n as the letter h;

single touching of the basic element l as the letter i;

single touching of the basic element as the letter j;

dragging from the basic element I to the basic element ⊂

as the letter k;

single touching of the basic element I as the letter l;

double touching of the basic element n as the letter m;

single touching of the basic element n as the letter n;

single touching of the basic element o as the letter o;

dragging from the basic element †

to the basic element ⊃

as the letter p;

dragging from the basic element ⊂

to the basic element †

as the letter q;

dragging from the basic element ⊂

to the basic element ⊃

via the basic element l as the letter s;

single touching of the basic element †

as the letter t;

single touching of the basic element u as the letter u;

double touching of the basic element l as the letter v;

double touching of the basic element u as the letter w;

dragging from the basic element ⊃

to the basic element ⊂

via the basic element l as the letter x;

dragging from the basic element l to the basic element as the letter y;

and double touching of the basic element _ as the letter z.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the basic element _ is assigned to a bottom side of the basic element †

, and

wherein the touchpad apparatus recognizes dragging from the basic element l to the basic element _ via the basic element †

as the letter r.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the touchpad apparatus recognizes:

left-to-right or top-to-bottom dragging on the basic element n as the letter m;

left-to-right or top-to-bottom dragging on the basic element l as the letter v;

left-to-right or top-to-bottom dragging on the basic element u as the letter w; and

left-to-right or top-to-bottom dragging on the basic element _ as the letter z.

41. The method of claim 11, wherein the available basic elements are visually identified by using at least one of a backlight, an inversed color, and a different color.

16. A keypad apparatus for inputting letters, the keypad apparatus comprising a plurality of keys to which basic elements u, I, n, ⊂

, l, ⊃

, , †

, , _, and o obtained by separating and symbolizing strokes of letters are separately assigned, and the keypad apparatus recognizing letters by using a method comprising at least one of;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

l as the letter a;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and ⊃

as the letter b;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element ⊂

as the letter c;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

I as alphabet d;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element _ as the letter e;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element as the letter f;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

as the letter g;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and n as the letter h;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element l as the letter i;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element as the letter j;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and ⊂

as the letter k;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element I as the letter l;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element n as the letter m;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element n as the letter n;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element o as the letter o;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements † and

⊃

as the letter p;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

†

as the letter q;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements l and _ as the letter r;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

⊃

as the letter s;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element †

as the letter t;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element u as the letter u;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element l as the letter v;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element u as the letter w;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊃ and

⊂

as the letter x;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements l and as the letter y; and

recognizing double pressing of the basic element _ as the letter z.

17. The keypad apparatus of claim 16, wherein the basic element l is used as a center element,

wherein the basic elements I, †

, ⊂

, and ⊃

are respectively assigned to top, bottom, left and right sides of the center element, and

wherein the letters a, b, d, k, p, and q are recognized by sequentially pressing two neighboring keys in the same direction and order as the writing direction and order thereof.

18. The keypad apparatus of claim 17, wherein the basic elements u and n are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element I,

wherein the basic elements and are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element †

, and

wherein the letters h, g, and y are recognized by sequentially pressing two neighboring keys in the same direction and order as the writing direction and order thereof.

19. The keypad apparatus of claim 16, wherein the keypad apparatus is a touchpad apparatus.

20. The keypad apparatus of claim 17, wherein sequential pressing of the basic elements I and o is recognized as an exclamation mark (!);

wherein sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊃ and

o is recognized as a question mark (?);

wherein double pressing of the basic element o is recognized as a period (.);

wherein double pressing of the basic element ⊃

is recognized as a comma (,); and

wherein sequential pressing of the basic elements o and ⊂

is recognized as an at mark (@).

21. The keypad apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a first key in addition to the keys to which the basic elements u, I, n, ⊂

, l, ⊃

, , †

, , _, and o are assigned,

wherein, if the first key is pressed after a small letter is recognized, the small letter is changed into a capital letter.

22. The keypad apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a first key in addition to the keys to which the basic elements u, I, n, ⊂

, l, ⊃

, , †

, , _, and o are assigned,

wherein the first key is used to select a small letter mode or a capital letter mode.

23. The keypad apparatus of claim 16, further comprising an additional key in addition to the keys to which the basic elements u, I, n, ⊂

, l, ⊃

, , †

, , _, and o are assigned,

wherein double key pressing is determined for each letter by pressing the additional_key after a single key is pressed.

24. The keypad apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a visual conversion unit for visually identifying from other non-available keys subsequent keys that are available to be pressed to input letters after an initial key is pressed, if two keys are sequentially pressed.

25. The keypad apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a time check unit for identifying a short time and a long time for sequentially pressing keys such that the short time and the long time are respectively determined as periods of time for pressing initial and subsequent keys.

42. The keypad apparatus of claim 17, wherein the keypad apparatus is a touchpad apparatus.

43. The keypad apparatus of claim 18, wherein the keypad apparatus is a touchpad apparatus.

26. A method of inputting letters, the method comprising:

pressing one of or sequentially pressing two of basic elements u, I, n, ⊂

, l, O, , †

, and _ obtained by separating and symbolizing strokes of letters;

determining a letter corresponding to the pressed basic element or the sequentially pressed basic elements; and

displaying the determined letter.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the displaying of the determined letter comprises at least one of:

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

l as the letter a;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and O as the letter b;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element ⊂

as the letter c;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

I as the letter d;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element _ as the letter e;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element as the letter f;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

as the letter g;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and n as the letter h;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element l as the letter i;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element as the letter j;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and ⊂

as the letter k;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element I as the letter l;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element n as m;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element n as the letter n;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element O as the letter o;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements † and

O as the letter p;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

†

as the letter q;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

_ as the letter r;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

O as the letter s;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element †

as the letter t;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element u as the letter u;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element l as the letter v;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element u as the letter w;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements O and ⊂

as the letter x;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements l and as the letter y; and

recognizing double pressing of the basic element _ as the letter z.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the displaying of the determined letter further comprises at least one of:

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements and _ as the letter f;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements _ and l as the letter t;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements u and as the letter y; and

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements l and †

as the letter y.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the basic element l is used as a center element,

wherein the basic elements I, †

, ⊂

, and O are respectively assigned to top, bottom, left and right sides of the center element, and

wherein the letters a, b, d, k, p, and q are recognized by sequentially pressing two neighboring keys in the same direction and order as the writing direction and order thereof.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the basic elements u and n are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element I,

wherein the basic elements and are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element †

, and

wherein the letters h, g, and y are recognized by sequentially pressing two neighboring keys in the same direction and order as the writing direction and order thereof.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the basic elements and are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element I,

wherein the basic elements u and n are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element †

, and

wherein the letters g and y are recognized by sequentially pressing two neighboring keys.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein a first key is comprised in addition to keys to which the basic elements u, I, n , ⊂

, l , O, , †

, , and _ are assigned, and

wherein double key pressing is determined for each letter by pressing the first key after a single key is pressed.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein a second key is comprised in addition to keys to which the basic elements u, I, n, ⊂

, l, O, , †

, , and _ are assigned,

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter a is recognized, the letter a is sequentially changed into at least one of “

A, á

, Á

, ä

, Ä

”

,

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter e is recognized, the letter e is sequentially changed into at least one of “

E, é

, É

”

,

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter i is recognized, the letter i is sequentially changed into at least one of “

I, í

, Í

”

,

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter o is recognized, the letter o is sequentially changed into at least one of “

O, ó

, Ó

, ö

, Ö

”

,

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter u is recognized, the letter u is sequentially changed into at least one of “

U, ú

, Ú

, ü

, Ü

”

, and

wherein, if the second key is repeatedly pressed after the letter n is recognized, the letter n is sequentially changed into at least one of “

N, ñ

, Ñ

”

.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein, if a single key is pressed, a letter is recognized if a predetermined period of time passes after the single key is pressed.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein subsequent basic elements that are available to be pressed to input letters after an initial basic element is pressed are visually identified from other non-available basic elements.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein subsequent basic elements that are available to be pressed to input letters after an initial basic element is pressed are visually identified from other non-available basic elements.

37. A keypad apparatus for inputting letters, the keypad apparatus comprising a plurality of keys to which basic elements u, I, n, ⊂

, l, O, †

, and _ obtained by separating and symbolizing strokes of letters are separately assigned, and the keypad apparatus recognizing letters by using a method comprising at least one of;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

l as the letter a;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and O as the letter b;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element ⊂

as the letter c;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

I as the letter d;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element _ as the letter e;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element as the letter f;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

as alphabet g;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and n as the letter h;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element l as the letter i;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element as the letter j;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements I and ⊂

as the letter k;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element I as the letter l;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element n as the letter m;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element n as the letter n;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element O as the letter o;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements † and

O as the letter p;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

†

as the letter q;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements l and _ as the letter r;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements ⊂ and

O as the letter s;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element †

as the letter t;

recognizing single pressing of the basic element u as the letter u;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element l as the letter v;

recognizing double pressing of the basic element u as the letter w;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements O and ⊂

as the letter x;

recognizing sequential pressing of the basic elements l and as the letter y; and

recognizing double pressing of the basic element _ as the letter z.

38. The keypad apparatus of claim 37, wherein the basic element I is used as a center element,

wherein the basic elements I, †

, ⊂

, and O are respectively assigned to top, bottom, left and right sides of the center element, and

wherein the letters a, b, d, k, p, and q are recognized by sequentially pressing two neighboring keys in the same direction and order as the writing direction and order thereof.

39. The keypad apparatus of claim 37, wherein the basic elements u and n are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element I,

wherein the basic elements and are respectively assigned to left and right sides of the basic element †

, and

wherein the letters h, g, and y are recognized by sequentially pressing two neighboring keys in the same direction and order as the writing direction and order thereof.

40. The keypad apparatus of claim 37, wherein the keypad apparatus is a touchpad apparatus.