Dynamic Pinyin Input Keyboard Layout for Touchscreen Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Pinyin input methods for Chinese characters on touchscreens require users to switch between initials and finals keyboards inconveniently, limiting intuitive operation and occupying excessive screen space.
Innovation Solution
A three-level structure is implemented, displaying initial keys, simple final keys, and dynamically showing auxiliary keys for compound finals, allowing simultaneous display of initials and finals without excessive screen usage, enabling users to input Chinese characters efficiently without remembering keyboard positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users switch between initials keyboard and finals keyboard to complete Pinyin input, then the input method can be implemented, but the operation becomes inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the initials keyboard and finals keyboard into a single integrated keyboard layout. The keyboard displays both initial letters and final letters simultaneously, allowing users to input complete Pinyin without switching between separate keyboards. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating the switching operation entirely while maintaining the functionality of both initial and final input.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard is designed with multi-functionality, where each key can serve multiple purposes. The same keyboard layout handles both initial selection and final selection, making the keyboard universal for complete Pinyin input. This eliminates the need for separate keyboards and reduces operational steps.
2Ease of operation
If the keyboard displays all initials and finals simultaneously, then users can input without switching keyboards, but the screen space occupied becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is segmented into different regions for displaying initial letters and final letters. Instead of a uniform dense layout, the keyboard divides the screen into zones where initials and finals are separately organized but simultaneously visible. This segmentation allows complete Pinyin input capability while optimizing screen space utilization through structured arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes vertical arrangement to display both initials and finals on the same horizontal keyboard structure. By organizing letters across multiple vertical levels or rows, the keyboard fits more content into the available screen space without increasing the horizontal footprint excessively. This dimensional arrangement enables comprehensive letter display while managing screen real estate.
Data Source
AI summary
A Chinese character Pinyin input method and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes displaying on a human-machine interaction interface (HMI) initial keys representing all initials and simple final keys representing all simple finals. The method further includes, in response to an operation with respect to a simple final, displaying on the HMI auxiliary keys corresponding to the simple final, wherein various combinations of the simple final and symbols represented by the auxiliary keys respectively form compound finals starting with the simple final. The disclosed method and apparatus are especially applicable to inputting Chinese characters on a touchscreen of smart devices, such as mobile phones.