Letter input apparatus and method

Abstract: A letter input apparatus and method which make it possible to speedily and easily select a necessary letter from many kinds of letters while using a control dial input apparatus. By providing a control dial input apparatus 11 for generating command signals for forward direction and backward direction revolutions and a press-down, a microcomputer 12 for controlling a letter to be displayed based on the command signals, an OSD controller 13 for generating image information out of letter information and a display unit for displaying the generated image information, selection is conducted by moving a one dimensional cursor with a step for selecting one group of letters arranged and displayed in two dimensional fashion and a step for selecting a letter from the selected group of letters.

Description: The present invention relates to a letter input apparatus and methods. In an exemplary 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 (which are four letters of Japanese letters called "hiragana" formed of about fifty letters shown in FIG. 1 and which means an invention in English) are to be input. In FIG. 2, in a case when, for example, a third letter (pronounced as "ME") is to be inputted after a first letter (pronounced as "HA") and a second letter (pronounced as "TSU") are inputted, the control dial input apparatus has to be revolved to change over a letter displayed on a menu display from (pronounced as "A") to through (pronounced as "I"), (pronounced as "U"), (pronounced as "E"), ···, (pronounced as "MU") in this order (which is similar to an alphabetical order), and then the dial is pressed down to select the . 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 "hiragana", a numeral, a symbol, an alphabet 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. European Patent Application Publication Number EP-A-0 615 195 describes an apparatus for displaying menu options with a minimum of key strokes. According to this apparatus, a two-dimensional array of menu options is displayed in response to pressing a key on a keyboard and a user selects a particular row of the displayed menu options by pressing a row selector key until the desired row is highlighted in the display. A particular function is then selected from the highlighted row by pressing a menu key. Japanese Patent Publication Number JP -A- 07 129 294 describes a character input device operable using one hand whereby a pivot lever is pivoted using the thumb to select a vowel and a seesaw switch is pushed using the index finger and middle finger to select a consonant. According to a first aspect of the invention a letter input apparatus is provided comprising: an input unit operable to generate a command signal in response to a forward revolution, a backward revolution or a press-down of said input unit; a control unit operable to generate letter information in dependence upon said command signal; a conversion unit operable to generate image information in dependence upon said letter information; and a display unit operable to display said image information generated by said conversion unit; wherein said display unit is operable to two-dimensionally arrange and display letters available for selection via said input unit and said control unit has a first mode for selecting a group of letters from those displayed on said display unit and a second mode for selecting a given letter from said selected group of letters. Embodiments of the present invention can provide 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. According to a second aspect of the invention a method is provided comprising the steps of: generating a command signal in response to a forward revolution, a backward revolution or a press-down of an input unit; generating letter information in dependence upon said command signal; generating image information in dependence upon said letter information; and displaying said image information to a user; wherein said letters that are available for selection via said input unit are two-dimensionally arranged and displayed to the user, a first mode is used for selecting a group of letters from those displayed, and a second mode is used for selecting a given letter from said selected group of letters. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are referred to by like references, and in which; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an example of a screen display of a conventional control dial input apparatus; FIG. 3 is an example of a screen display of a conventional cross key or the like; FIG. 4 is an example of a screen display of a video camera showing a preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is an example of a screen display of a video camera showing a preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is an example of a screen display of a video camera showing a preferable embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is an example of a screen display of a video camera which is a preferable embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is an example of a screen display of a video camera showing a preferable embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a video camera equipped with a letter input apparatus as a preferable embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a display screen of the display unit such as an LCD and the like loaded on a video camera, reference numeral 10 is a video camera equipped with a letter input control apparatus, reference numeral 11 is a control dial input apparatus as an input unit for inputting a letter, 12 is a microcomputer as a control unit, reference numeral 13 is an OSD (On Screen Display) controller for converting a letter input to an image, reference numeral 14 is a lens, reference numeral 15 is a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and reference numeral 16 indicates a signal processing IC. On the display screen 1 are overlappingly displayed image information inputted by the lens 14 and letter information generated by the OSD controller 13. An image incident on the lens 14 is converted to an electric signal by the CCD 15 and, by the signal processing IC 16, is converted to an image information capable of being displayed on the display screen 1. Meanwhile, based on an input signal by the control dial input apparatus 11, the OSD controller 13 converts the letter information to the image information capable of being displayed on the display screen 1 under the control of the microcomputer 12. At that time, the control dial input apparatus 11 can transmit three kinds of control signals to the microcomputer 12, such as an upward direction revolution, a downward direction revolution and a dial press-down. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4 through FIG. 8, how the letter information displayed on the display screen 1 corresponding to a control signal from the control dial input apparatus 11 is generated by the microcomputer 12 and the OSD controller 13 will be explained. Meanwhile, FIG. 4 through FIG. 8 are diagrams for representing displayed contents on the display screen 1 at a time of producing a title to be attached to a video image by using the control dial input apparatus 11. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen in a state before a third letter is about to be inputted and displayed at a title area (which is an area of (pronounced as "TAITORUSAKUSEI") shown in FIG. 4) after a first letter and a second letter are inputted at a time of producing a title called . On the screen, 80 hiragana letters form groups of every 5 letters, and at this time point, a group (pronounced as "A I U E O") is being selected. In order to input the third letter because the belongs to a group (pronounced as "MA MI MU ME MO"), the control dial input apparatus 11 is revolved downward to select the group as shown in FIG. 5. At this juncture, the group selected on the screen shifts from to through (pronounced as "KA KI KU KE KO"), (pronounced as "SA SHI SU SE SO"), (pronounced as "TA CHI TSU TE TO"), (pronounced as "NA NI NU NE NO"), (pronounced as "HA HI FU HE HO") in this order. Although the letter is apart from the letter by 33 letters, it takes only six lines to travel according to the selection by the above mentioned groups. Meanwhile, when (which is pronounced as "KIGOU" and means a symbol in English) is selected in FIG. 4, the screen changes over to a screen for displaying an alphabet, a symbol and the like as shown in FIG. 8. After the group is selected, by pressing the control dial input apparatus 11 down, the selection is decided. When the selection is decided, as shown in FIG. 6, only out of the group becomes a state of being selected. Next, when the control dial input apparatus 11 is revolved further downward, a selected letter moves from to through and in this order. As shown in FIG. 7, when the control dial input apparatus 11 is pressed down after selecting the , the third letter is decided and the given letter is registered as the third letter of the title and displayed. Meanwhile, when the control dial input apparatus 11 is revolved further upward, a selected letter returns from to through and in this order. Here, when the group is erroneously selected, for example, when a group is selected instead of the group , by revolving the control dial input apparatus 11 downward, a letter for selection moves from to through , and in this order and with its further downward revolution, the whole group is selected next to . After that, as the letter is selected by pressing again the control dial input apparatus 11 down to decide the given selection, the letter is preferably decided in accordance with the above mentioned procedure. Further, when a once selected group erroneously moves to another group, because the once selected group is memorized, one letter of the given group is automatically selected at a time of returning again to the group. For example, even when after selecting the group , the group erroneously moves to the group , if the control dial input apparatus 11 is revolved upward, the is selected. Also, even when after selecting the group , the group erroneously moves to the group by revolving the control dial input apparatus 11 downward, the is selected. Also, at a time of inputting the title when is erroneously inputted, by selecting a "[←]" on the display screen shown in FIG. 4, the last inputted is erased, thereby making it possible to input again. Further, after inputting of the title is finished, when a (which is pronounced as "KANSEI" and means completion in English) is selected on the display screen shown in FIG. 4, the inputting of the title is completed. Meanwhile, in the above embodiment of the present invention, an explanation has been made on the video camera, but the letter input apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the video camera, and it is needless to say that it also includes an arbitrary apparatus and method in which a letter is inputted by way of the control dial input apparatus such as in a cellular phone, an electronic pocket notebook, a television remote controller, a set top box and the like. As it is apparent from the above explanation, according to the letter input apparatus and method, it is possible to make two dimensional selection by way of the control dial input apparatus in a one dimensional input type, doesn't occupy much space and at the same time, is capable of being operated by a single hand and conducting letter input in good operability.

Claims: A letter input apparatus comprising: an input unit (11) operable to generate a command signal in response to a forward revolution, a backward revolution or a press-down of said input unit; a control unit (12) operable to generate letter information in dependence upon said command signal; a conversion unit (13) operable to generate image information in dependence upon said letter information; and a display unit (1) operable to display said image information generated by said conversion unit (13); wherein said display unit (1) is operable to two-dimensionally arrange and display letters available for selection via said input unit (11) and said control unit (12) has a first mode for selecting a group of letters from those displayed on said display unit (1) and a second mode for selecting a given letter from said selected group of letters. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection of a group of letters or of a given letter within a selected group of letters by said control unit is conducted by a command signal generated by a forward revolution or a backward revolution of said input unit and a change-over between said first mode and said second mode of said control unit is conducted by a command signal generated in response to a press-down of said input unit. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein selection of a group of letters or of a given letter within a selected group of letters by said control unit and a change-over between said first mode and said second mode of said control unit are conducted by a command signal generated in response to a forward revolution or backward revolution of said input unit. A letter input method comprising the steps of: generating a command signal in response to a forward revolution, a backward revolution or a press-down of an input unit (11); generating (12) letter information in dependence upon said command signal; generating image information in dependence upon said letter information; and displaying (1) said image information to a user, wherein said letters that are available for selection via said input unit are two-dimensionally arranged and displayed to the user, a first mode is used for selecting a group of letters from those displayed, and a second mode is used for selecting a given letter from said selected group of letters. A method according to claim 4, wherein said selection of a group of letters or of a given letter within a selected group of letters is conducted by a command signal generated by a forward revolution or a backward revolution of said input unit and a charge-over between said first mode and said second mode is conducted by a command signal generated in response to a press-down of said input unit. A method according to claim 4, wherein selection of a group of letters or of a given letter within a selected group of letters and a change-over between said first mode and said second mode are conducted by a command signal generated in response to a forward revolution or backward revolution of said input unit.

Inventors: MASUDA IKUKO, OKAMOTO NAOYA, MASUDA, IKUKO, OKAMOTO, NAOYA, Masuda, Ikuko, Sony Corporation, Okamoto, Naoya, Sony Corporation
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G06F3
IPC codes: H03M11, G06F17, G06F3