Character inputting method for a handy phone using a seesaw key and a device therefor
A character inputting method for a handy phone or similar terminal unit uses a first and a second button capable of being pressed or shifted independently of each other. The user of the terminal unit operates the first button and/or second button to scroll characters appearing on a display either in the forward direction or in the backward direction, selects desired one of the characters, and fixes it. When the user presses the two buttons at the same time, the existing one of the vertical and horizontal scroll directions is replaced with the other direction. The user selects the desired character by the forward or backward scroll and then shifts the first or the second button to fix the character. A device for practicing the character inputting method is also disclosed.
1. A character inputting method for a terminal unit having a first and a second button each capable of being pressed and individually shifted toward and away from each other, the method comprising:
(a) pressing at least one of said first and second buttons for scrolling and searching characters appearing on display means in either one of a forward direction and a backward direction; and
(b) shifting at least one of said first and second buttons for selecting a desired character and fixing said desired character;
wherein said first and second buttons are a single unit.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
scrolling, by pressing at least one of said first and second buttons, the characters appearing on said display means in the forward direction or the backward direction, and fixing, by shifting at least one of said first and second buttons, an input of a character selected.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
moving, by shifting and then pressing at least one of said first and second buttons, a cursor appearing on a screen of said display means.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
writing, when the character is fixed, information representative of a position of said character in a first store section to a second store section.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
positioning, by shifting at least one of said first and second buttons, a cursor at a character to be corrected on a screen of said display means, then searching, based on information added to said character, character sequences stored in a first store section to thereby determine a position of said character, and then searching the characters at said position.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the terminal unit comprises a handy phone.
7. A terminal unit comprising:
display means; a first store section storing character sequences;
inputting means including at least one of a first and a second button capable of being pressed or shifted independently towards and away from each other, the first and second buttons being a single unit; and
control means for controlling, when pressing at least one of said first and second buttons, a scroll of characters appearing on said display means in either one of a vertical and a horizontal direction and in either one of a forward direction and a backward direction;
wherein said control means scrolls, when at least one of said first and second buttons is pressed, the characters in the forward direction or the backward direction to thereby search said characters, and selects, when at least one of said first and second buttons is shifted, a desired character and fixes said desired character to thereby input said desired character, said desired character being written to said first store section.
8. A terminal unit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said control means scrolls, when at least one of said first and second buttons is pressed, the characters appearing on said display means in the forward direction or the backward direction, and fixes, when at least one of said first and second buttons is shifted, an input of a character selected.
9. A terminal unit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said control means moves, when at least one of said first and second buttons is pressed, a cursor appearing on a screen of said display means.
10. A terminal unit as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising a second storage for storing, when fixing the character, information representative of a position of said character in said first store section.
11. A terminal unit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein when at least one of said first and second buttons is shifted for correcting a character, said control means positions a cursor at said character on a screen of said display means, then searches, based on information added to said character, character sequences stored in said first storage to thereby determine a position of said character, and then starts searching the characters at said position.
12. A terminal unit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said first and second buttons comprise a seesaw key.
13. A terminal unit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said terminal unit comprises a handy phone.