Character Input System Flick Toggle Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

The frequent switching of keyboard images on touch screen devices for inputting different character types, such as kana, numerals, and symbols, complicates the input operation and reduces efficiency, especially for Japanese users who often need to switch between kana and alphanumeric inputs.

Innovation Solution

A character input system that allows switching between input character types based on flick or toggle operations rather than switching the keyboard image, with predefined groups of characters and operations, enabling users to input primary types using familiar operations and reserving less familiar operations for secondary types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the keyboard image is switched every time the type of character to be inputted is changed, then the input of different character types (kana, numerals, symbols) is enabled, but the operation becomes complicated and input efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter type input capabilityVSAvoidinput operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The keyboard image is designed to serve multiple functions by assigning different character types (kana, numerals, symbols) to the same physical key positions. Each key can represent multiple characters depending on the input mode, allowing a single keyboard layout to handle diverse character input requirements without switching between different keyboard images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The character assignment on each key is made dynamic rather than static. The system can switch between different character sets (kana, alphanumeric, symbols) on the same key positions based on user input mode selection, making the keyboard adaptable to different input needs without changing its physical layout or requiring multiple keyboard images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the keyboard image is switched for inputting different character types, then various character types can be inputted, but the frequency of keyboard switching increases with frequent character type changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter type switching capabilityVSAvoidinput efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares multiple character sets in advance and assigns them to the same key positions. Users can switch between pre-configured character types (kana, alphanumeric, symbols) without waiting for keyboard image changes, as all character sets are already loaded and ready for immediate selection through mode switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A single keyboard image is designed to universally handle multiple character types by assigning different characters to each key position based on the selected input mode. This eliminates the need for separate keyboard images for each character type, allowing rapid switching between kana, numerals, and symbols without the overhead of loading different keyboard layouts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple keyboard images are registered for different character types, then comprehensive character input is possible, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter type coverageVSAvoidkeyboard image management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple character sets that would traditionally require separate keyboard images are merged into a single keyboard layout. Different character types (kana, alphanumeric, symbols) are assigned to the same key positions, consolidating what would be multiple keyboard images into one unified keyboard structure that can represent all character types through mode switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single keyboard image is designed to be universal, capable of representing multiple character types simultaneously through different input modes. This eliminates the need to manage multiple separate keyboard images, reducing the complexity of keyboard image registration, switching, and memory management while maintaining comprehensive character type coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10338809B2Program for character input system, character input device, and information processing device

Publication Date: 2019.07.02 OMRON CORP

AI summary

A non-transitory computer readable medium including a plurality of character types classified into two groups, and for each group, a plurality of characters assigned to each of the character keys for each group, flick input-use definition information that correlates the assigned characters to the various directions of flick input operations registered for one group, and toggle input-use definition information that correlates the assigned characters to the display order of the toggle input operation registered for the other group. The character corresponding to the direction of flick input operation is determined on the basis of the flick input-use definition information pertaining to the character key being operated, and the determined character is displayed. When a toggle input operation is performed, an assigned character indicated by the toggle input-use definition information pertaining to the character key being operated is displayed by being switched in the defined order.