Devices with push buttons for entering numbers

Abstract

To provide an apparatus in which a push button for number input which is not restricted by the area of arrangement of a push button for inputting 10 types of Arabic numbers is arranged.SOLUTION: Five number push buttons are arranged, the numbers of individual displays in the push button are specified as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 instead of 0 and 1 to 4. It is easy to understand and memorize that operation procedures 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are inputs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively in which each number of the first digit is denoted as an input number in input numbers 1 to 5 by using 1 in the second digit and using 1 to 5 in the first digit. Operation procedures 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 are inputs 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0, respectively, in which the total number is an input number as a numerical value under the condition that each number of two digits is a numerical value when 5 is used in the second digit and 1 to 5 are used in the first digit for input numbers 6 to 9 and 0.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for reducing the total number of push buttons required for inputting numbers on devices equipped with Arabic numerals (hereinafter the description "Arabic" will be omitted) and for arranging the number of number push buttons, individually displaying numbers on each push button, and displaying operation procedure numbers corresponding to the input numbers, thereby making it easier for the operator to remember operation procedures by minimizing the number of operations required when pressing the buttons multiple times for one input and by associating the input numbers with the operation numbers. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional technology requires 10 individual buttons for inputting numbers from 0 and 1 to 9 on the operation section, with one push for one input, but for input operations using human fingers, in order to miniaturize the device, there is a need for technology to reduce the number of numbers displayed and reduce the layout area in order to ensure the area required for pressing each button. However, reducing the number of buttons requires multiple pushes for one input operation, so at the same time there is a demand for technology that makes it easier for the operator to remember the numbers in the operating procedure by associating them with the input numbers. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] To reduce the number of push buttons, it is easy to think of a minimum relationship between the number of push buttons and the number of times they need to be pressed, which can be obtained by arranging nine or fewer buttons and combining multiple push operations in a way that results in more than 10 different combinations.For example, two buttons can be pressed four times, three buttons can be pressed three times, and four to nine buttons can be pressed two times. However, it is inefficient for the operator to have to input numbers while looking at a table that associates input numbers with operating procedure numbers, so a technology is needed that will make it easier for the operator to remember by associating operating procedure numbers with input numbers. To this end, the present invention aims to provide a device with number input push buttons that makes it easy for the operator to remember operating procedures by using technology that specifies the association between the number of push buttons, the numbers individually displayed on the push buttons, and the order in which to press the operations corresponding to the input numbers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] It is easy to think of a minimum of 2 pushbuttons that can provide 10 or more combinations that can simplify the operation procedure, and a minimum of 4 buttons that can be arranged. However, the more buttons arranged, the more combinations there are, and the more combinations that can easily relate the operation procedure numbers to the input numbers can be obtained, but this is disadvantageous in terms of the layout area. In comparing four and five buttons, in four two-digit permutations, 10 combinations cannot be obtained unless at least three different numbers are used in the second digit, but in five buttons, two different numbers can be used in the second digit, which has the effect of making it easier to remember the associations with the input numbers. Since the effect of reducing the number of buttons is poor with six or more buttons, we will describe a technology that specifies five buttons and makes it easier to remember the associations between the input numbers and operation procedures.

[0005] The two-digit operation procedure numbers, which make it easier to remember the association with the input numbers, are related to the numbers displayed individually on the push buttons. Table 1 shows the association between the input numbers and the operation procedure numbers when 0 and 1 to 4 are used for the individual display of the push buttons in the correspondence of the permutation and combination of the input numbers and the two-digit number display of the push buttons. It is easy to think of the operation procedure for input number 0 as 00, 1 as 01, 2 as 02, 3 as 03, and 4 as 04 when using 0 as the second digit, but it is difficult to associate the input numbers and operation procedure numbers that can make the operator's memory easier when using input numbers 5 to 9. It is easy to think of the operation procedure of using 1 as the second digit and 0 and 1 to 4 in order as the first digit, but it is difficult to associate it with the input numbers, and furthermore, the operation procedure 10 is similar to the operation procedure for input number 1, which is easy to cause confusion, and if this is avoided, there is a drawback that the input number 9 will be out of the order of the second digit. The same applies when other numbers are used as the second digit.

[0006] [Table 1]

[0007] As shown in Table 2, the present invention uses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 to display the individual push buttons, and the operation procedure for inputting 1 to 5 uses 1 as the second digit and 1 to 5 in order as the first digit, making it easy for the operator to remember the operation procedure for the first digit. For input numbers 6 and above, it is easy to think of using 2 as the second digit and applying 1 to 5 in order as the first digit, and inputting 6 to 9 and 0, but the specific technology of the present invention is superior in terms of the effect of making it easier for the operator to remember. The present invention is a specific technology that regards each of the two digits as a numerical value and uses the sum of the input digits 6 to 9 and 0 as an input digit, using 5 as the second digit and 1 to 5 as the first digit in order in relation to the operation procedure, and has a large memory effect on the operator. The input digit 0 is easily understood to be related to the input digit 0, which is 10, the sum of the 55 in the operation procedure.

[0008] [Table 2] Effect of the Invention

[0009] Reducing the total number of numeric input buttons clearly has the effect of reducing the footprint of the input buttons. This technology is particularly suitable for wristwatch-type mobile phones, which require a reduction in the footprint of the input buttons as devices become more compact. Furthermore, with four push buttons there are 16 types of double-digit numbers and only 6 types remaining other than those used for numbers, whereas with five push buttons of the present invention there are 15 types remaining, and it is also possible to add functions such as #, *, telephone execution, forward / backward / left / right cursor movement, and add / delete, which allows the number of individual push buttons for each function to be reduced, resulting in a significant reduction in the area required for button placement.

[0010] With a total of five push buttons, the operator can place one or more push buttons separately from the others in any location without difficulty in identifying their location. For example, it is possible to place numbers 1 to 2 at the top of the display screen and numbers 3 to 5 at the bottom, or to place them apart around the periphery of the display screen. Furthermore, even if the numbers are not displayed on the display screen as pressure-sensitive numbers, the operator can set the 12 o'clock position to 1, the 3 o'clock position to 2, the 6 o'clock position to 3, the 9 o'clock position to 4, and the center position to 5 without difficulty in identifying their location. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a device according to a conventional technique. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a device according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a wristwatch-type mobile phone according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described. In order to compare the conventional technology with the technology of the present invention, a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a device using the conventional technology is shown in Fig. 1. The number push buttons are arranged in 10 of the 12 squares arranged in 4 rows and 3 columns. A plan view showing an example of the configuration of a device using the technology of the present invention is shown in Fig. 2. The number push buttons are arranged in 5 of the 6 squares arranged in 2 rows and 3 columns. The miniaturization of the device is clear in comparison with Fig. 1. The form of Fig. 3 is described in paragraph 0010. The figure omits the display of detailed device parts that are not related to the explanation of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0013] 1. Main body of a conventional device configuration example 2 Display screen 3. 10 number buttons arranged in 4 rows and 3 columns using conventional technology 1a Main body of an example of the configuration of the device according to the present invention 3a Five number buttons arranged in two rows and three columns according to the present invention 1b Main body of a configuration example of a wristwatch-type mobile phone according to the present invention 2b Display screen of a configuration example of a wristwatch-type mobile phone according to the present invention 3b Five number buttons on the display screen of a wristwatch-type mobile phone according to the present invention

Claims

[Claim 1] This device has five push buttons displaying Arabic numerals, with the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 individually displayed on the push buttons, and in the operation procedure of pressing the push button twice to input a number, the operation procedure for inputting number 1 is 11, the operation procedure for inputting number 2 is 12, the operation procedure for inputting number 3 is 13, the operation procedure for inputting number 4 is 14, the operation procedure for inputting number 5 is 15, the operation procedure for inputting number 6 is 51, the operation procedure for inputting number 7 is 52, the operation procedure for inputting number 8 is 53, the operation procedure for inputting number 9 is 54, and the operation procedure for inputting number 0 is 55, and the number input push buttons are arranged with 1 at the 12 o'clock position, 2 at the 3 o'clock position, 3 at the 6 o'clock position, 4 at the 9 o'clock position, and 5 in the center position.

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