Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-02
2001-07-17
Sax, Steven (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262709
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a letter input apparatus and method which use a control dial input apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a case of inputting a letter on a menu screen by using a control dial input apparatus, there have been only three operating functions of the control dial input apparatus, namely, an upward direction revolution, a downward direction revolution and a dial press-down. Therefore, as shown in
FIG. 3
, it has been impossible to input a letter in a two dimensional fashion and, as shown in
FIG. 2
, it has been necessary that each letter is inputted by using one dimensional menu.
FIG. 2
shows an operation carried out when letters of operation carried out when letters of “invention” are to be input. In
FIG. 2
, in a case when, for example, a third letter example, a third letter “V” is to be inputted after a first letter “I” and a second letter “N” are inputted, the control dial input apparatus has to be revolved to change over a letter displayed on a menu display from “A” to “V” through “B”, “C”, “D”, . . . , “U” in an alphabetical order, and then the dial is pressed down to select the “V”.
Instead of using the control dial input apparatus, there have been some apparatus for inputting a letter in a two dimensional fashion, as shown in
FIG. 3
, by using two dimensional input apparatus such as a cross key, a track ball and the like. However, although a display of the two dimensional input apparatus is easy to be looked, there is a problem that a space for it to be installed becomes larger and at the same time it is time consuming for operation. Therefore, as for a portable apparatus, the control dial input apparatus capable of realizing space saving has been used in many cases.
Kinds of letters to be inputted amount to about 140 in kinds of letters including a numeral, a symbol, an alphabet, Japanese letters called “hiragana” and the like. Therefore, when the letter is input by using only the one dimensional menu, a problem has occurred that it takes much time and trouble in selecting a letter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of such aspects, it is an object of the present invention to propose a letter input apparatus which makes it possible to speedily and easily select a necessary letter from many kinds of letters with a control dial input device.
In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a letter input apparatus of the present invention has an input unit for generating command signals for forward direction and backward direction revolutions and a press-down, a control unit for controlling a letter to be displayed based on the command signals, a converting unit for generating image information from letter information, and a display unit for displaying the image information generated by the converting unit, which is characterized in that the display unit arranges and displays a letter to be displayed two dimensionally and the control unit has a mode for selecting a group of letters arranged and displayed two dimensionally as mentioned above and a mode for selecting a letter from the above mentioned selected group of the letters.
Also, in order to achieve the above mentioned object, a letter input method of the present invention is characterized by comprising a step for selecting a group of letters which are two dimensionally arranged and displayed, and a step for selecting a letter from the selected group, and the selection of the group of letters and the selection of the letter are conducted by one dimensional moving of a cursor.
REFERENCES:
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Cowart,Mastering Windows™ 3.1, Special Edition,Alameda, CA, Sybex Corp. pp. 176, 429-433, 1993.*
Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 95, No. 8, Sep. 29, 1995 of JP 07 129 294 A (Alps Electric Co. Ltd.), May 19, 1995.
Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 18, No. 278 (P-1743), May 26, 1994 of JP 06 044 214 A (Brother Ind. Ltd.), Feb. 18, 1994.
Masuda Ikuko
Okamoto Naoya
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Kessler Gordon
Sax Steven
Sony Corporation
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