Abstract:
A Chinese input method for computing devices is disclosed. The method includes the steps of a) showing a plurality of radical index divisions, wherein each of the radical index divisions has squares which separately represent different radicals; b) selecting one of the squares, which corresponds to a radical of a Chinese character to be input; c) showing a character index division composed of Chinese characters with the same radical as the selected square in the step b); and d) selecting one from the Chinese characters shown in the step c).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The invention relates to character input methods, particularly to a Chinese input method for an electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    After Computing systems appear, to satisfy various users with different languages, input method software have become necessary in computing systems and electronic devices based on computing systems. Modern users have been used to using a computing system or electronic device to make word processing. Character input methods are to allow users to input foreign characters other than English alphabets. Being faster or more convenient to input foreign characters is the most important issue. 
         [0005]    Generally speaking, all currently popular Chinese input methods in computing systems, regardless of pronunciation-based input methods or radical-based input, must use an input device, typically a keyboard. Users utilize a keyboard with numbers, Bopomofo characters and/or radicals to input a Chinese character. 
         [0006]    With the advance of touchscreen technology in recent years, Chinese input methods are being improved. Besides directly showing Bopomofo characters or radicals on a touchscreen, another improvement is to directly write a Chinese character on a touchscreen for inputting. Such a hand-writing input method has become the fastest and most convenient Chinese input method. 
         [0007]    In sum, current Chinese input methods are designed for Chinese-speaking users. They are too difficult for non-Chinese-speaking users. And the hand-writing input method will become unreliable due to hieroglyphics and is more disadvantageous to non-Chinese-speaking users. As a result, a new Chinese input method which has fast inputting ability and is available for non-Chinese-speaking users is a new issue. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An object of the invention is to provide a method for inputting Chinese characters in an electronic device, which uses radicals to categorize Chinese characters and provides related words after a Chinese character has been input. Thus Chinese characters can be fast and conveniently input. 
         [0009]    To accomplish the above object, the method of the invention includes the steps of: a) showing a plurality of radical index divisions, wherein each of the radical index divisions has squares which separately represent different radicals; b) selecting one of the squares, which corresponds to a radical of a Chinese character to be input; c) showing a character index division composed of Chinese characters with the same radical as the selected square in the step b); and d) selecting one from the Chinese characters shown in the step c). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the invention used in a computing system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the invention in use; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are another schematic views of the invention in use; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is still another schematic view of the invention in use; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is yet another schematic view of the invention in use; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the radical index division of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is another enlarged view of the radical index division of the invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which is a schematic view of the invention used in a computing system. As shown, the Chinese input method of the invention is operated by a software application stored in a memory (not shown) of an electronic device  1 . The electronic device  1  in this embodiment is a computing device with a display  11 . The electronic device  1  is switched to generate a character input window  2  on the display  11 . There are radical index divisions  21  in the character input window  2 . In detail, the radical index divisions  21  are composed of a first radical index division  21   a,  a second radical index division  21  b, a third radical index division  21   c,  a fourth radical index division  21   d  and a fifth radical index division  21   e.    
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the radical index divisions  21   a - 21   e  may be expressed in different colors on the display  11  for visual distribution. Each of the radical index divisions  21   a - 21   e  includes squares  211 . Each square  211  is provided with a Chinese radical and each Chinese radical may be further added with explanation in a foreign language (not shown) such as English for easily understanding to non-Chinese-speaking users. These radicals may be ranked in an order of their stroke numbers as shown in  FIG. 7 . The expression mode of the radical index divisions  21  can be different from the shown embodiment. There is a character input division  22  in the character input window  2 . In the embodiment, the character input division  22  is placed at the top of the radical index division  21 . Additionally, there is a function selection division  23  in the character input window  2  and the function selection division  23  is placed at the bottom of the character input window  2 . The function selection division  23  has squares  231  with symbols and functions. The software application has a database stored in the memory of the electronic device  1  such as a tablet computer. 
         [0020]    Please refer to  FIGS. 2-5 , which are schematic views of the invention in use. This embodiment adopts a single radical as an example. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the Chinese input method of the invention is switched by a user to enter the character input mode and to be expressed on the display  11  of the electronic device  1 . The user extracts a radical from a Chinese character to be input and then selects the extracted radical from the first to fifth radical index divisions  21   a - 21   e.  For example, when the user selects the first radical index division  21   a,  the first radical index division  21   a  will be enlarged and the other radical index division  21   b - 21   e  will be shrunk to one side as shown in  FIG. 3   a.  For example again, when the user selects the fourth radical index division  21   d,  the fourth radical index division  21   d  will be enlarged and the other radical index division  21   b - 21   e  will be shrunk as shown in  FIG. 3   b.  Please refer back to  FIG. 3   a,  when the user has selected a radical square  211  a in the first radical index division  21   a,  another window will appear on the display  11  to express a character index division  3  for allowing a user to select. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the character index division  3  includes a character input division  31 , a character aggregation division  32  and a function selection division  33 . Characters in the character aggregation division  32  are all ones with the selected radical. The embodiment is an example of traditional Chinese characters. The character aggregation division  32  has a radical expression square  321  for showing the selected Chinese radical, radical variation and explanation in foreign language. Simplified and traditional Chinese characters can be expressed together. The characters are ranked in an order of stroke numbers. Additionally, the system also has a memory function, which can re-rank the characters in an order of using frequency. 
         [0022]    The function selection division  33  is placed at the bottom of the character index division  3  and includes squares  331  which are separately provided with symbols and functions. When a user selects one of the character aggregation division  32 , the selected character will be expressed in the character input division  31 . After that, the system recognizes the character in the character input division  31 , and a word index division  4  will appear on the display  11 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the word index division  4  includes a character input division  41 , a word aggregation division  42  and a function selection division  43 . The word aggregation division  42  shows all words containing the selected character. Bopomofo characters, Pinyin characters and explanation in a foreign language will be generated after one of the words has been selected. In this embodiment, the foreign language is English for allowing a user to confirm. 
         [0023]    Finally, the function selection division  43  has squares which are separately provided with symbols and functions. Additionally, when the character to be input does not appear, a user can turn back to the first to fifth radical index divisions  21   a - 21   e  to reselect another radical. This reselection procedure may be repeated until the wanted character appears. 
         [0024]    Please refer to  FIG. 8 , which is a flowchart of the invention. In step S 1 , show a plurality of radical index divisions  21  on the display  11 . Each of the radical index divisions  21  has squares  211 , each of which represents a Chinese radical. Additionally, each radical is further provided with explanation in a foreign language. In step S 2 , select one of the squares  211 . In step S 3 , show a character index division  3  composed of Chinese characters with the same radical as the selected square in the step S 2 . The character index division  3  includes a character input division  31  and a character aggregation division  32 . In step S 4 , select one from the Chinese characters shown in the step S 3 . At this time, a frequency of selecting character will be recorded. In step S 5 , show a word index division composed of all words containing the selected character. Each of the words is further provided with Bopomofo characters, Pinyin characters and explanation in a foreign language. Additionally, the system also records a using frequency of words, which can re-rank the characters in an order of using frequency. 
         [0025]    The invention provides a simple and easy Chinese input method. This allows users to fast and conveniently input Chinese characters regardless of Chinese-speaking and non-Chinese-speaking users. Also, the English translation can help Chinese-speaking users to learn English and help non-Chinese-speaking users to learn Chinese. 
         [0026]    While the forgoing is directed to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. As such, the appropriate scope of the invention is to be determined according to the claims.