KR20060011174A - Wireless communication terminal and its key input device - Google Patents

Abstract

1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal and a key input device thereof.

2. The technical problem to be solved by the invention

The present invention includes a means (touch pad) for detecting a contact and a means (dome switch) for detecting a selection (press) in a wireless communication terminal or the like in the input device (keypad), as well as processing a general key input. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication terminal and its key input device for providing a handwriting recognition function using a touch pad.

3. Summary of the Solution of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication terminal, comprising: input means for detecting a contact and transmitting a corresponding contact coordinate signal to a control means, and detecting a key input and transmitting a corresponding input signal to the control means; Storage means for storing a cursive recognition program; Perform a corresponding operation according to the input signal received through the input means, decode the trajectory of the contact coordinate signal received through the input means using a handwriting recognition program stored in the storage means, and then output the means. The control means for outputting through; And said output means for outputting said decrypted result under control of said control means.

4. Important uses of the invention

The present invention is used in a wireless communication terminal.

Wireless terminal, touch pad, touch detection, handwriting recognition, dual mode keystrokes

Description

Wireless communication terminal and its key input device             

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication terminal having a dual mode key input function according to the present invention;

2A is a detailed configuration diagram of an embodiment of an input device (keypad) of a wireless communication terminal having a dual mode key input function according to the present invention;

2b is a detailed configuration diagram of another embodiment of an input device (keypad) among a wireless communication terminal having a dual mode key input function according to the present invention;

3 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a dual mode key input method in a wireless communication terminal according to the present invention;

4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a dual mode key input method in a wireless communication terminal according to the present invention;

5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a memo function of a dual mode key input method in a wireless communication terminal according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawing

11: wireless transmission and reception device 12: operation / control device

13: codec 14: storage device

15: audio output device (speaker) 16: display device (LCD)

17: input device (keypad) 18: voice input device (microphone)

The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal and a key input device thereof, and more particularly, to input a means (touch pad) for detecting a contact and a means (dome switch) for detecting a selection (press) in a wireless communication terminal or the like. The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal and a key input device provided in a device (keypad) for processing a general key input as well as providing a handwriting recognition function using a touchpad.

In the present invention, a wireless communication terminal is a mobile communication terminal, a personal mobile communication terminal (PCS), a personal digital terminal (PDA), a smart phone, a next generation mobile communication terminal (IMT-2000), wireless communication while carrying an individual such as a wireless LAN terminal Say this is possible terminal.

There may be various advantages of the wireless communication terminal, but above all, it is said that the greatest advantage is in the mobility provided to the user who is calling. Due to this mobility, the number of wireless communication subscribers has increased exponentially, and in recent years, wireless communication terminals are widely used by the general public.

In general, an input through a keypad is required to perform an operation such as selecting a menu or writing a text message in a wireless communication terminal. In this case, a general keypad is a dome switch type, and a key input signal is generated by pressing a button.

However, conventionally, since the arrangement of the keypad and the input method of the characters are different for each manufacturer of the wireless communication terminal, a user who is not familiar with the arrangement of the keypad has a very inconvenient problem when trying to input a text message. In addition, in the case of Hangul, it is very inconvenient because a number of key inputs (superiority, neutrality, and finality) are required in order to input a single letter, and a mode conversion key must be input in order to convert the input mode to English or numbers. .

As a conventional technology for solving such a problem, "A key input method using a touch pad in a mobile communication terminal (published on Nov. 20, 2003) (hereinafter, referred to as" first prior art ") is disclosed in Korean patents. No. 10-2003-0088795.

The first prior art includes a touch pad as a key input means in a mobile communication terminal, and inputs execution or search key data of a user menu displayed through a display unit when a user opens a folder or flip through the touch pad. By receiving and processing, there is no need to provide a separate key button, there is an effect that can reduce the thickness of the terminal.

However, since the first prior art does not have a separate key button, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the terminal device, but there is a problem in that input of characters and the like is very inconvenient. That is, it is not unreasonable to perform a function with fewer kinds of selections such as menu selection, but in the case of characters, the input is very complicated and inconvenient.

In addition, as another conventional technology, "mobile terminal using a touch pad (registered in Korea Patent Publication No. 2003/9/2003) (hereinafter referred to as second prior art)" is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2003-0035226. Is disclosed.

The second prior art separates the touch pad from the display unit, greatly widens the input area of the touch pad, and enables input processing of numbers, contract letters, and handwritten characters according to selection of an input mode, and can be utilized as a mouse. Technology.

However, in the second prior art, since all the inputs are made in a single touch pad, there is an inconvenience in that the input mode must be changed every time the numbers, contract letters, and handwritten characters are input.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for a method of easily inputting characters while performing functions such as menu selection by key input (pressing) as in the related art.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems and to meet the above requirements, and means for detecting a touch (touch pad) and a means for detecting a selection (press) in a wireless communication terminal or the like (dome switch). It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication terminal and its key input device for providing a handwriting recognition function using a touchpad as well as processing general key input.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, it will be readily appreciated that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the claims.

An apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object, the key input device of the wireless communication terminal, the dome switch for generating a corresponding key input signal by the pressure applied from the outside; And a touch pad provided on an upper portion of the dome switch and configured to generate a contact coordinate signal corresponding to a contact position.

In addition, the apparatus of the present invention is provided between the dome switch and the touch pad, characterized in that it further comprises a light emitting means for emitting light when a key input signal or a contact coordinate signal is generated.

On the other hand, another apparatus of the present invention, in the wireless communication terminal, for detecting a contact and transmitting a corresponding coordinate coordinate signal to the control means, and for detecting a key input to transmit the corresponding input signal to the control means Input means; Storage means for storing a cursive recognition program; Perform a corresponding operation according to the input signal received through the input means, decode the trajectory of the contact coordinate signal received through the input means using a handwriting recognition program stored in the storage means, and then output the means. The control means for outputting through; And the output means for outputting the decrypted result according to the control of the control means.

The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereby those skilled in the art may easily implement the technical idea of the present invention. There will be. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication terminal having a dual mode key input function according to the present invention, which is a wireless communication terminal having a dual mode key input device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a wireless communication terminal having a dual mode key input function according to the present invention operates and controls a wireless transmission / reception apparatus 11 for transmitting and receiving a signal wirelessly through an antenna and the wireless communication terminal. In accordance with a key input signal received through the input device (keypad) 17, a corresponding operation (for example, screen output, call connection, menu movement / setting, etc.) is performed, while the input device (keypad) ( 17) the trace (cursive) of the contact coordinate signal received through the decoding using a handwriting recognition program stored in the storage device 14 into letters (or numbers, etc.) and then through the display device (LCD) 16 Under the control of the operation / control device 12 and the operation / control device 12 for outputting, the signal received from the wireless transmission / reception device 11 is converted into voice and output to the voice output device (speaker) 15. And voice Codec (13) for converting the voice received from the device (microphone) 18 into a signal to be transmitted to the operation / control device 12 to be transmitted through the wireless transmission and reception device (11), the wireless A voice for outputting a voice received from the storage device 14 for storing a program for operating a communication terminal, a file system (image, character, icon), a handwriting recognition program, and the like, and the codec 13 An output device (speaker) 15, a display device (LCD) 16 for outputting a screen according to the control of the operation / control device 12, and a touch coordinate signal corresponding to a touch detected to calculate a corresponding operation / control device (12), and detects the selection (press) of the button (key) and transmits the corresponding key input signal (telephone number input signal, character input signal, menu selection signal, etc.) to the operation / control device 12 Input device (keypad) 17 to make sound Force received and a voice input device (microphone) 18 for transmission to the codec (CODEC) (13).

At this time, the input device (keypad) 17 is composed of a combination of means (touch pad) for detecting contact and means (dome switch) for detecting selection (pressing). In addition, the input of the input device (keypad) 17 is divided into an operation of inputting a handwritten object with a hand or a pen and selecting (pressing) a specific key (button). To this end, the input device (keypad) 17 according to the present invention has a structure as shown in FIG.

2A is a detailed block diagram of an embodiment of an input device (keypad) of a wireless communication terminal having a dual mode key input function according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2A, an input device (keypad) 17 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a dome switch 21 and a touchpad 23.

The dome switch 21 transmits a corresponding key input signal to the operation / control device 12 by the pressure applied from the outside.

The touch pad 23 senses a contact position on the keypad and generates a corresponding contact coordinate signal. In addition, the top of the touch pad 23 is in the form of a flat, provided at the bottom In order to transmit the pressing of the key (button) to the dome switch 21, it is embodied in a soft material, and numbers, letters, or symbols written on each key (button) are printed. In addition, when inputting a letter (or number) or a memo of a cursive handwriting using the touch pad 23, the entire area ignoring the arrangement of keys (buttons) is used as shown in FIG.

In addition, the touch pad 23 is preferably input using a stylus pen and a finger. In addition, the dome switch 21 operates in the same manner as a normal keypad when a pressure (a pressing force with a finger) is transmitted enough to sense a press of a key.

2B is a detailed configuration diagram of another embodiment of an input device (keypad) of a wireless communication terminal having a dual mode key input function according to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 2B, an input device (keypad) according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a dome switch 25, an EL sheet 26, and a touchpad 27.

The dome switch 25 transmits a corresponding key input signal to the operation / control device 12 by the pressure applied from the outside.

The touch pad 27 senses a contact position on the keypad and generates a corresponding contact coordinate signal. In addition, the top of the touch pad 23 is in the form of a flat, provided at the bottom In order to transmit the pressing of the key (button) to the dome switch 21, it is implemented with a soft material, and the numbers, letters, or symbols written on each key (button) transmit the light generated by the EL sheet 26. It is implemented transparently. In addition, when inputting a letter (or number) or a memo of a cursive handwriting using the touch pad 27, the entire area ignoring the arrangement of keys (buttons) is used as shown in FIG.

The EL sheet 26 is a planar light source in the form of an ultra-thin film having flexibility by applying electroluminescence (EL), and operates under the control of the operation / control device 12 to generate light upon key input. That is, the EL sheet 26 is such as when a folder is opened under the control of the operation / control device 12, when the user contacts the touch pad 27, when the user presses the dome switch 25, or the like. In the case of light. Since this process is the same as the conventional one, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Instead of the EL sheet 26, a light emitting diode (LED) can also be used as a means for generating light.

On the other hand, the operation / control device 12 uses a handwriting recognition program that stores the trajectory (handwriting) of the contact coordinate signal received through the input device (keypad) 17 in the storage device 14 to display the character ( Or a number, etc.), and outputs the same through a display device (LCD) 16. In order to use the handwriting recognition function, first, a handwriting recognition mode must be set. That is, if the handwriting recognition mode is set, character input through handwriting recognition is possible in text message input, address book input, address book search, and the like. Can be entered. In this case, the handwriting recognition mode may be implemented to be automatically set in a function requiring input of a letter or a number according to a user's selection, and automatically released in other functions.

In addition, the operation / control device 12 converts the trajectory of the contact coordinate signal received from the input device (keypad) 17 into an image according to a memo request signal received through the input device (keypad) 17. The image may be output on the screen, and the image output on the screen may be stored in the storage device 14.

Referring to Figure 3 will be described in more detail the overall process of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a dual mode key input method in a wireless communication terminal according to the present invention.

First, in order to execute the dual mode key input function in the wireless communication terminal according to the present invention, the handwriting recognition mode should be set according to the user's input. At this time, the handwriting recognition mode is automatically set when input of characters (or numbers, etc.) using a keypad is required, such as text message writing, address book writing, telephone number input, etc., according to a user's selection.

When the input device (keypad) 17 detects a touch of a finger, a pen, or the like while performing a short message, an address book, or a phone number while the handwriting recognition mode is set as described above, the touch is performed. The contact coordinate signal corresponding to the position is continuously transmitted to the operation / control device 12 (302).

Then, the operation / control device 12 decodes the trajectory of the contact coordinate signal received from the input device (keypad) 17 into a letter (or number) using a handwriting recognition program (303), and then displays the display device. Output (preview) through (LCD) 16 (304). In this case, as a program for recognizing the handwriting, a commercially available product or a product developed later may be used.

Meanwhile, the operation / control device 12 converts the trajectory of the contact coordinate signal received from the input device (keypad) 17 into an image according to a memo request signal received through the input device (keypad) 17, and displays a screen. And a function of storing the image output on the screen in the storage device 14. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a user's touch on the input device (keypad) 17 using a finger or a stylus pen or the like is converted into an image (graphic data) as shown in " 51 " On the other hand, it is possible to perform a function for storing in the storage device at the request of the user.

In addition, the operation / control device 12 may execute a mouse function by using the contact coordinate signal received through the input device (keypad) 17. That is, the operation / control device 12 operates in the mouse mode according to the user's request. When the operation / control device 12 operates in the mouse mode, the movement of the cursor is controlled according to the trajectory of the continuous contact coordinate signal, and the contact is made within a predetermined time. The release action is recognized as a click or double click.

The process of "301" to "304" is repeatedly performed until the handwriting recognition mode is released. When the input device (keypad) 17 detects the pressing of a specific key (button) at any time during the execution, the corresponding key input is performed. A signal (key input interrupt) is transmitted to the operation / control device 12, and the operation / control device 12 operates in accordance with the key input signal (for example, screen output, call connection, and menu movement) as in the prior art. / Settings, etc.).

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited by the drawings.

As described above, the present invention includes a means (touch pad) for detecting contact and a means (dome switch) for detecting a touch (dome switch) in a wireless communication terminal or the like to process a general key input. In addition, by providing a handwriting recognition function using a touch pad, a user who is not familiar with the arrangement of the keypad may conveniently enter letters (or numbers).

In addition, the present invention, the input device (keypad) is provided with a means (touch pad) for detecting a contact (dome switch) for detecting a contact (dome switch) in a wireless communication terminal, the general key input and touch pad By providing a handwriting recognition function using the touch pad as well as by providing a memo function using the touch pad, there is an effect that you can easily take notes anytime, anywhere using a wireless communication terminal that is always carried.

Claims (7)

In the key input device of the wireless communication terminal, A dome switch for generating a corresponding key input signal by an externally applied pressure; And A touch pad provided on an upper portion of the dome switch and configured to generate a contact coordinate signal corresponding to a contact position; Key input device of a wireless communication terminal comprising a. The method of claim 1, Light emitting means provided between the dome switch and the touch pad, for emitting light when a key input signal or a contact coordinate signal is generated Key input device for a wireless communication terminal further comprising. The method of claim 2, The light emitting means, Key input device of a wireless communication terminal, characterized in that the electroluminescence (EL: ElectroLuminiscence) sheet. The method of claim 2, The light emitting means, Key input device of a wireless communication terminal, characterized in that the light emitting diode (LED). In a wireless communication terminal, Input means for detecting a contact and transmitting a corresponding coordinate coordinate signal to the control means, and detecting a key input and transmitting a corresponding input signal to the control means; Storage means for storing a cursive recognition program; Perform a corresponding operation according to the input signal received through the input means, decode the trajectory of the contact coordinate signal received through the input means using a handwriting recognition program stored in the storage means, and then output the means. The control means for outputting through; And The output means for outputting the decrypted result according to the control of the control means Wireless communication terminal comprising a. The method of claim 5, The control means, And converting the trajectory of the contact coordinate signal received from the input means into an image according to the memo request signal input through the input means, outputting the image through the output means, and storing the trace in the storage means. Wireless communication terminal. The method according to claim 5 or 6, The input means, A wireless communication terminal comprising a touch pad for sensing a contact and a dome switch for sensing a selection.

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