Character input device and car navigation device equipped with character input device

• US 9,465,517 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2011
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Atsushi, Yamazaki, Wataru
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHREWSBURY, NATHAN K
• Application Number:
  US13/982,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

A character input device provides a function of deleting an unconfirmed inputted character which the user is currently inputting, and a function of changing a confirmed character string to an unconfirmed state to a single correction key. Therefore, the character input device enables the user to carry out a character input efficiently by using limited space without requiring an excessive operation and arrangement of a new key for reconversion. Further, because the character input device holds the information on confirmed character strings even after all the character strings have been confirmed, the character input device enables the user to arbitrarily select a character string which the user wants to correct at any time, and re-edit only the portion.

Claims

1. A character input device that carries out inputting and editing of character strings, said character input device comprising:

a memory to store information including phonetic information of a plurality of character strings; and

a controller;

to receive an initial character string as an input;

to acquire predicted character string candidates having phonetic information that includes phonetic information associated with the initial character string;

to output the predicted character string candidates to a display;

to control editing of input character strings or character strings selected from predicted character string candidates to generate edited character strings based on commands from a key input; and

to output said edited character strings to the display, wherein

said controller executes, based on operation of a key of said key input, the two following character string editing control functions;

when said key is operated before one of said predicted character string candidates is selected according to a command from said key input, deleting a character string displayed on said display, and

when said key is operated after one of said predicted character string candidates is selected, changing a character string displayed on said display to a character string representing phonetic information of said character string selected from said predicted character string candidates.

2. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein said character input device is capable of setting descriptions of a command to be issued when said key is operated, and, when said key is operated after one of said predicted character string candidates is selected, said controller outputs a command to change character string displayed on said display to a character string displayed on said display before one of said predicted character string candidates is selected, instead of changing a character string displayed on said display to a character string representing phonetic information of said character string selected from said predicted character string candidates, according to the setting.

3. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein said controller outputs a command of changing a display of a name of said correction key according to whether or not one of said predicted character string candidates is selected.

4. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein when a character within one or more character strings which are selected from predicted character string candidates displayed on said display is specified, said controller acquires position information on the specified character within said one or more character strings, and said controller selects one character string including said specified character on a basis of said position information and the information stored in said memory, and changes selected character string displayed on said display to a character string representing phonetic information of said character string.

5. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein said key unit has a character string selection key for commanding said controller to select a character string from one or more character strings which are selected from predicted character string candidates displayed on said display, and said controller selects one character string on a basis of a command by said character string selection key and the information stored in said memory, and changes selected character string displayed on said display to a character string representing phonetic information of said character string.

6. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein said controller outputs a command of outputting an operation sound when said key is operated.

7. The character input device according to claim 6, wherein said operation sound is changed according to whether or not said key is operated after one of said predicted character string candidates is selected.

8. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein said controller outputs a command of generating force feedback when said key is operated.

9. The character input device according to claim 8, wherein a pattern of the force feedback is changed according to whether or not said key is operated after one of said predicted character string candidates is selected.

10. A car navigation device comprising a character input device according to claim 1.

11. A mobile phone comprising a character input device according to claim 1.

12. A mobile computer comprising a character input device according to claim 1.

13. A game machine comprising a character input device according to claim 1.

14. A method for inputting and editing of character strings, said method comprising:

stores information including phonetic information of a plurality of character strings; and

controlling input and editing operations that;

receive an initial character string as an input;

acquire predicted character string candidates having phonetic information that includes phonetic information associated with the initial character string;

output the predicted character string candidates to a display;

control editing of input character strings or character strings selected from predicted character string candidates to generate edited character strings based on commands from a key input; and

output said edited character strings to the display, wherein

said controlling executes, based on operation of a key of said key input, the two following character string editing control functions;

when said key is operated before one of said predicted character string candidates is selected according to a command from said key input, deleting a character string displayed on said display, and

when said key is operated after one of said predicted character string candidates is selected, changing a character string displayed on said display to a character string representing phonetic information of said character string selected from said predicted character string candidates.