Abstract: Ideographic keyboard and method in which an array of characters are printed on one side of a panel and optically readable data corresponding to the characters is recorded on the other side of the panel. A character selector is moved about the first side the panel for selective alignment with the characters, and an optical reader is linked to the character selector for movement about the recorded data in concert with the character selector. The data corresponding to a selected character is read, and a coded signal for the selected character is output in response to the data which is read. In one disclosed embodiment, the data is recorded in the form of bar coding, and the reader is a bar code reader. Precise alignment of the reader with the data for the selected character is assured by reading data from a region larger than the data field itself and extracting the character data in software.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for configuring a first device based on a code associated with a second device. In accordance an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of accepting with the first device an input from the second device, providing to the first device a code associated with the second device in association with the input, determining if a configuration of the first device corresponds to a configuration corresponding to the provided code and, if not, reconfiguring the first device to a configuration associated with the provided code if the first device. In one embodiment of the invention, the first device is a computer and the second device is a keyboard connected to the computer, the input comprises the typing of a key and the configuration comprises selecting a keyboard mapping function corresponding to a keyboard code.

Abstract: To enable Chinese characters to be inputted by means of pinyin symbols inputted with the use of nine numerical keys such as those used in a telephone set or a television remote controller.

Abstract: A phonetic Korean Hangul keyboard system comprises a keyboard having an upper row, a middle row, and a bottom row. The upper row has a left upper section and a right upper section, the middle row has a left middle section and a right middle section, and the bottom row has a left bottom section and a right bottom section. The left upper section has at least five key faces and the left middle section has at least five key faces such that more than ten basic Korean consonants are distributed along the left upper and the left middle key faces. The right upper section has at least five key faces and the right middle section has at least five key faces such that more than seven basic Korean vowels are distributed along the right upper and the right middle key faces. The left bottom section has at least five key faces and the right bottom section has at least five key faces such that more than ten basic Korean consonants are distributed along the left bottom and the right bottom key faces.

Abstract: A method for inputting a plurality of characters in a wireless portable terminal of the type having a memory for storing a plurality of characters and a plurality of indices associated with each one of the plurality of characters, comprising the steps of: determining if a mode for inputting a character is selected; displaying at least one character along with at least one index associated thereto in response to the selection of the character-input mode; determining if the key data corresponding to the index is inputted; and, displaying and storing the associated character corresponding to the index when the key data corresponding to the index is inputted.

Abstract: Described are methods for entering and editing data strings that are inputted into cellular telephones having a screen. In one method, all basic Hangul consonants and some of the compound Hangul consonants are included in a candidate consonant list and all basic Hangul vowels and some of the compound vowels are included in a candidate vowel list. The candidate consonant and vowel lists are alternatively displayed on a component display region (906) located on the screen. To form a Korean character, a user can select consonant(s) and vowel from the candidate consonant and vowel lists. To form a compound Hangul component that is not included in either the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list, the user selects a basic Hangul component as a first part of the compound Hangul component from either the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list.

Abstract: An apparatus for inputting ideographic characters such as Chinese and Japanese characters, comprising an input pad having at least three rows and three columns of keys, forming a square with four corners and one corner key at each corner. At least two of the corner keys (1, 3, 7, 9) have corner-shaped stroke representions shaped approximately in correspondence with the corresponding corners. This gives a user a useful visual aid. Keys of a left-hand row (1, 4, 7) represent strokes that predominate in left-hand portions of characters and radicals, and keys of a right-hand row (3, 6, 9) represent strokes that predominate in right-hand portions of characters and radicals. A lower-left key (7) represents a stroke having a right hook and a lower-right key (9) represents a stroke having a left hook. These features lend themselves to ergonomic efficiency in character entry.

Abstract: A method of finding a Chinese character in an electronic dictionary. The method includes sorting the characters in the dictionary into three groups according to stroke type: horizontal, vertical and slant, identifying which group a character belongs to based on the first writing stroke of the character, locating an original root of the Chinese character from the identified group based on a first three writing strokes of the Chinese character and finding the Chinese character in the dictionary based on the first three writing strokes of the Chinese character that immediately follow the strokes of the located original root.

Abstract: A structure of an electronic instrument having operation keys and a manufacturing method thereof, in which a dustproof and waterproof function can be secured by a simple structure, are provided. The structure of the electronic instrument having operation keys provides a cabinet providing an opening part for operation keys, the operation keys that are disposed in the opening part of the cabinet so that each of the operation keys is movable in the orthogonal direction to the front surface of the cabinet, and a resin film that covers the surface of the cabinet and the surfaces of the operation keys in the state that the resin film is not cut on the surfaces of the cabinet and the operation keys, and covers a gap formed between the cabinet and the operation keys, and gaps formed among the operation keys.

Abstract: A superior portable information terminal of the palm size having a keyboard unit wherein the portable information terminal includes a polyhedral structure having a number of component faces including a first component face which accommodates a display screen and a second component face provided adjacent the first component face and having an inputting key set including a number of key tops arranged in a zigzag pattern. Each of the key tops has a rib-like projection formed along a peripheral edge thereof. In an operation condition wherein a user holds the portable information terminal with one hand and observes the display screen, the user can perform key inputting operation using the fingertips of the hand with which the body of the apparatus is held. Further, the user can search for the location of any key through the sense of touch on the rib-like projection or projections obtained from a fingertip.

Abstract: A character input device which allows the user to input characters in a virtual qwerty arrangement on a mobile information device or a palm-sized information terminal. A mobile telephone or the like having a ten-key board is equipped with an inclination sensor or an angular velocity sensor for allocating the same arrangement of the qwerty type keyboard, divided into a left, a central and a right section, to the ten-key board of the mobile telephone depending on whether the mobile telephone is inclined to the left or to the right, or at a normal position. For a personal computer user or the like who has already memorized actually or latently the qwerty arrangement, actions for moving the mobile telephone to the left or right or horizontally have special meanings. Such physical motions causes the user to retrieve the image of the qwerty type keyboard so that they can rapidly input characters.

Abstract: A Chinese-character input method and system is provided to allow users to input Chinese characters to a data processor with a reduced keyboard, such as a mobile-phone handset with a CCITT-compliant (Consultative Committee in International Telegraphy and Telephony) keyboard having only 12 keys. This Chinese-character input method and system allows the user to input Chinese characters to the data processor through a plurality of virtual keyboards which collectively display a set of phonetic symbols, such as those in the Mandarin Phonetic Symbol Set or the Roman Symbol Set, so that the user can perform the input operation through a pronunciation-based input scheme. The Chinese-character input method and system arranges the virtual keyboards in relational layers in accordance with the Mandarin Phonetic-Symbol Combination Rules or the Chinese Roman-Symbol Combination Rules, so that the user can perform the task of Chinese-character input to the data processor more conveniently and efficiently than the prior art.

Abstract: A general Chinese phonetic keyboard setting apparatus enables the user to define a phonetic keyboard in a computer system. The user can define a key to correspond with a Chinese phonetic character (one key, one sound), or one key to correspond with several Chinese phonetic characters (one key, several sounds), or a Chinese phonetic character to correspond with several keys (one sound, several keys). Based on mutual acceptance and mutual rejection among finals, initials, medials and tones of the Chinese phonetic characters, whether or not the Chinese phonetic keyboard that was defined by the user is rational can be automatically verified to aid the user in defining a logical Chinese phonetic keyboard. Not only can the Chinese character input habit of different people can be satisfied, the Chinese character input speed can also be increased.

Abstract: A plurality of keyboards are provided which are capable of inputting Japanese phonetic characters by letters and numerals and letters in English. In the Japanese phonetic character inputting mode, the numeric keys including “0” key 31 and “6” to “9” keys 26 to 29 are assigned as separator keys, the numeral keys including “1” to “5” keys 26 to 29 are assigned as code keys. In the English inputting mode, two symbol keys including “*” key 30 and “#” key 31 are assigned as code keys and the remaining keys are assigned as separator keys. Ten characters including M, Y, R, W, P, F, J, L, Q are input by sequential strokes of data keys following to a stroke of the “*” key, and letters G, Z, D, N, B, X, SPACE, <, >, <., >., and V are input by sequential strokes of data keys following to the strokes of the “#” key.

Abstract: A variety of methods and systems for presenting and delivering user application input choices. One-handed or vocal user input provides chords or syllables. The invention includes systems and methods for presenting user application input choices, chord or syllable based apparatus and sub-systems for generating user application input choices in response to input signals associated with chords or syllables. One embodiment of input device resembles a joystick and includes a base and a key carrier extending from the base. A single key is provided along the top of the carrier, and four keys extend widthwise along a side surface. A system presents and delivers user application input choices. An input device receives chords and syllables. A processor associated with the input device receives chords or syllables and generates input signals, a second processor for receiving and evaluating the input signals and for sending a user application signal to the user application processor of the computer.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of Chinese character word processing that includes interpreting key entries as signifying components of Chinese characters, the components being selected from a group consisting of roots and three types of strokes, namely horizontal strokes, vertical strokes, and slant strokes, the roots being a composite of the three types of strokes; counting the horizontal strokes found in the components corresponding to the key entries to obtain a total count of the horizontal strokes; counting the vertical strokes found in the components corresponding to the key entries to obtain a total count of the vertical strokes; counting the slant strokes found in the components corresponding to the key entries to obtain a total count of the slant strokes; and forming a desired Chinese character that contains a total number of horizontal strokes equal to the total count of the horizontal strokes, a total number of vertical strokes equal to the total count of the vertical strokes and a total number of slant

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method for inputting ideographic characters. The apparatus (100) has an input pad with a predetermined number of input keys (102, . . . 111). Theoretically, at least a stroke and a radical are mapped to each input key (102, . . . 111). After the apparatus (100) receives at least a first and a second input key entry, based on a number of input key entries received, the apparatus (100) determines whether the first input key entry is one of the following: a stroke and a radical. Thus, the method solves the ambiguity problems caused by such a mapping of the apparatus.

Abstract: A graphical machine-user interface includes a processor connected to a display screen to generate a screen display of individual items in groups together with the selector indication. The processor and a display screen are used to advantage to provide a rich keyboard function from a very limited set of pushbuttons. For example, five pushbuttons indicating "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle" are recursively used to reduce a large two-dimensional matrix of item choices presented on the display to some subset, e.g., a top, right, bottom, left, or middle subset. If the reduction results in a choice of one, then that item is selected and output automatically. If the reduction results in a subset with more than one item, then a recursive process is used in which the selection process is repeated until the selected subset is reduced to a single item.

Abstract: An interface circuit for interfacing a relegendable liquid crystal display (LCD) keyswitch to a controlling processor. The interface circuit is adaptable for use with data input devices and point-of-sale devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mandarin phonetic inputting apparatus by using sixteen keys. It achieves the purpose of conveniently operating for those people are not skilled in typewriting, and provides a capability of detecting ambiguous tones in mandarin language for degrading reentering caused by misunderstanding the ambiguous tones, and furthermore, to serve as a user input interface in a handhold calculator with more economical efficiency.

Abstract: A reduced keypad entry method and apparatus provides a method and apparatus for entry of words using a small number of keypresses on a reduced keypad (210) having multiple symbols associated with at least one key. The method and apparatus uses validity rules (242) to rearrange the order of presentation of the multiple alphabet symbols associated with a single key on the keypad (210), automatically eliminates the presentation of invalid alphabet symbols, and allows the entry of additional information such as a tone markers. Additionally, the method and apparatus uses a dictionary (244) to convert phonetic syllables into Chinese characters.

Abstract: A method of text entry into a device by activating keys of a keypad (16), where a key represents various characters. Input is delivered to a processor (30) corresponding to the keys activated. A dictionary (33) is searched for candidate combinations of characters corresponding to the keys activated. The candidate combinations are rank ordered, for example using language model data and feedback (14, 38) is provided to a user indicating at least a highest rank ordered candidate combination.

Abstract: A reduced keyboard disambiguating system for the Korean language using word-level disambiguation to resolve ambiguities in keystrokes. A plurality of letters are assigned to each of a plurality of data keys, so that keystrokes on these keys are ambiguous. A user may enter a keystroke sequence wherein each keystroke corresponds to the entry of one letter of a word. Because individual keystrokes are ambiguous, the keystroke sequence can potentially match more than one word with the same number of letters. The keystroke sequence is processed by matching the input keystroke sequence to corresponding stored words or other interpretations. The 14 consonant jamos of the Korean alphabet are assigned to the data keys in their standard alphabetical sequence. The 10 vowel jamos are likewise assigned to the same set of data keys in their standard alphabetical sequence, such that a majority of the data keys are assigned both one or more consonant jamos and one or more vowel jamos.

Abstract: This novel computer input system consists of a keyboard with gojyuon-based key arrangements and software that is used in conjunction with the keyboard. The novel key arrangement of the keyboard of this invention uses the basic characteristics of the gojyuon table, but each key on the keyboard shows notations for both the Japanese gojyuon and English alphabet letter. For inputting Japanese, the column (or consonant) and the row (or vowel) of the gojyuon table are input in sequence. The gojyuon column keys are placed substantially on the right half of the keyboard, and the gojyuon row keys are placed substantially on the left half. The only letter consisting of a consonant in Japanese, (N), which is called hatsu-on, is input by pressing the key that represents the (NA) column of the gojyuon table with no vowels after it. Each letter of the English alphabet is assigned to the key that represents the same (or a similar) sound in the Japanese gojyuon row or column.

Abstract: A keyboard-type input apparatus has a main key area consisting of at least fifteen keys arranged in a three-line and five-column state to include a basic side either on right or left side of the column, of which two-column belongs to the basic side being provided as a vowel sound area to input vowel sounds and other columns composed of three-column being provided as a consonant sound area to input consonant sounds.

Abstract: With confidential information being composed of authenticating signs which belong to a first series, a second series of signs or designating symbols is defined, the first and second series of signs are displayed in a relatively random position, and this placement in correspondence is used to enter the confidential information in such a way that a third party who observes the entry operations cannot determine the confidential information. The invention also relates to the terminal associated with this process.

Abstract: This invention is for encoding of Chinese & Japanese ideographic characters which are digitized into a numeric format compatible for computer access and retrieval. Each Chinese & Japanese character is indexed by a numerical code. Each character is individually identified by an eight(8)-digit Geo-Stroke code, comprised of a four (4)-digit "FRAME" code and a four (4)-digit "ID" code. The coding method conforms to general writing habits, resulting in an input method both easy and convenient for an operator to learn and utilize. Each of the (10) Geostrokes used to input Chinese & Japanese character is assigned to a numeric digit (0-9). Each of the Geostrokes resembles one of the numeric digits available on the 10-key pad. By using this method both Chinese and Japanese ideographic character can be easily input and retrieved by using a 10-key design.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a keyboard for inputting Chinese characters, which can input both simplified Chinese characters and their original complex forms.The invention defines 25 double strokes of the kind and 25-28 auxiliary roots containing the double strokes as codes for inputting Chinese characters, further, the invention also defines 25 common use words. Three methods for inputting Chinese characters will be disclosed in the invention. In the input method of which 4 simple shape codes will be used for the coding, a word that can be leaved each other may be broken down into 2 blocks and then 2 codes respective of the first and last double strokes or roots containing the double strokes of each block will be taken into the coding. The inputting methods of the invention are simple and easy for studying.

Abstract: A method for selecting a symbol using an M-key keyboard in a personal information device (PID) divides the M keys into a first key group and a second key group. Each symbol to be recognized from the input key-strokes on the keyboard is assigned a unique two-keystroke sequence in which the first key and the second key of that two-keystroke sequence are selected from different key groups. When receiving keystrokes from the keyboard, two-keystroke sequences received from the keyboard are matched to the symbol assignments to derive which symbol is selected. This method is applicable not only for selecting letters from a European alphabet, such as the English or the Cyrillic alphabets, this method is applicable to selecting from a phonetic alphabet, such as the Pin-Yin system for Chinese characters and other phonetic systems in the Korean and Japanese languages as well.

Abstract: This invention provides a key-code outputting apparatus for a data processor of the type wherein two or more kinds of characters are assigned to each key of a keyboard connected to the data processor, and different kinds of characters can be inputted from one key by using a character input mode or by using conjointly a function key and a shift key. The key-code outputting apparatus includes a memory for managing a correspondence for each character input mode so that a key-code generated by a key address of the same character inputted from a keyboard of a different kind becomes the same as a key-code generated by the key address inputted from a keyboard having a key arrangement assumed by a data processing program.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the direction code for encoding Chinese characters using English alphabet and the inputting method thereof. While encoding a Chinese character, constructing the English letters that exist in said character according to horizontal stroke " ", vertical stroke " ", left-slanting stroke " " and right-slanting stroke " " of Chinese characters, decomposing said character into a combination of certain actual postures among 161 ones of the letters according to order of strokes and rules of the order of strokes, said combination of postures being limited to 6 direction patterns, said letters being in 8 positive directions and 8 inverted directions presented by the letters respectively, said combination of the letters being the direction code of said Chinese character.

Abstract: An operational panel capable of expanding the number of function menus to be selected. The operation panel has a cover 8 which is formed with display window 7a to 7d and equipped with push buttons 10a to 10d, respectively, at the side of the display windows 7a to 7d. The operation panel cover 8 is arranged on its back with two slide sheets 3 and 4 which are superposed one on the other but allowed to slide independently of each other. In accordance with the sliding movements of the slide sheets 3 and 4, micro-switches are turn ON/OFF. The upper slide sheet 3, as located just behind the operational cover 8, is formed with both indicators for indicating the function names and transparent portions. These transparent portions are positioned to face all tile display window 7a to 7d of the operational panel cover 8, when the upper slide sheet 3 is in a predetermined slide position. On the other hand, the lower slide sheet 4 is formed with display portions for displaying the function names.

Abstract: Depending on the size of the character sets, more steps may be designated with the same letters-followed-by-digits pattern. With the encoding system, an ideographic based language can be transcribed, or ciphered, into an easy-to-read stream of phonetic symbols and a discourse in the language can be input with commonly used computer keyboards. Since the system of encoding employs variable code length, it can be applied to much larger character sets by using longer codes. It also can be applied to character sets with different characteristics by appropriate reordering of the steps. The letters-followed-by-digits coding pattern is used for each characteristic of the ideographic symbols, independent of the symbols' relative graphic image locations in font tables and the size of character set, so that different configurations of the encoding can be software compatible across many character sets and languages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the conversion of a standard push button telephone keypad into a data entry terminal permitting full alphanumeric DTMF entry through a telephone system to a file server for delivery to a service provider computer. The alphabetical letters are prearranged to enable single or adjacent keypairs to be defined for each alphabetical letter. DTMF signals are generated by the keypairs and are transmitted to conventional voice tone recognition apparatus and storage facilities of the central computer for later or simultaneous delivery to a service provider computer such as a facsimile machine, an E-mail system, a paging system, and/or any data base connected to a telephone line.

Abstract: A predictive scanning input system provides predictive selection of individual indicators corresponding to keys on the keyboard to input a previously stored plural word message to a processor and subsequently to an output device. The predictive scanning input system of the present invention allows the user to select only a limited number of keys which can produce a previously stored message involving an initially detected symbol corresponding to a first key which has been operated. The system operates in conjunction with a keyboard containing a plurality of icons or polysemic (many-meaning) symbols to allow a user to access plural word messages or sentences previously stored in the memory thereof, for selective retrieval by the keyboard.

Abstract: A Bicameral Keyboard is provided for generating pictographic characters wherein twenty keys are sufficient to specify the roughly 3000 characters required for ordinary personal and business correspondence. The Bicameral Keyboard is compatible with pictographic expression and pedagogy and will permit direct access to word processors, translation machines, page editors, and printers at input rates more rapid than possible using the alphanumeric keyboard with western orthographic characters.

Abstract: The invention is an alphabetic keyboard arrangement for convenient and fast typing--for instructional, research or data entry purposes--the phonetic data or phonetic transcriptions of Mandarin Chinese in the pinyin romanization. Its distinguishing features are the following: (1) the keys bearing the letters A, I, O and U are so placed that each is usually struck by a different finger; (2) the keys bearing the letters A, I, O, U, N and G, as these letters stand for the most frequently appearing syllabic final speech sounds, are placed in the row of keys on which the typist's fingers usually rest; (3) the keys bearing the letters A, E, I, U and H are so placed that each is usually struck by the index finger or middle finger of either hand; (4) the keys bearing the syllabic tone quality symbols are in the central are of the keyboard.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for assembling text in ideographic language characters, a computer processing apparatus is provided, which comprises a central processing unit to which are connected a program storage unit, a character storage unit, a display unit and a printer. The character storage unit is searched by entering through input entry keys of a keyboard search criteria including the entered ideographic character stroke-type categories and the order in which the character stroke-type categories are entered through the input entry keys, whereby, upon entry of the search criteria, data relevant to the graphic representation of the ideographic character or data relevant to the graphic representations of a plurality of the ideographic characters which meet the search criteria, is retrieved from the program storage unit and the graphic representations are displayed by the display unit.

Abstract: An interactive method of communicating with a language deficient user such as an aphasic patient is disclosed. The computer has a display with a pointing device for visually indicating a position through a cursor means on the display. In one example, a plurality of images with each image being a graphical representation of word oriented information or a component thereof is displayed. A plurality of tool-like icons is also displayed. The cursor can be positioned to one of the desired plurality of tool-like icons. When one of the plurality of tool-like icons is selected by the user, the cursor is changed into the image of the tool-like icon selected. The tool-like icon image selected for the cursor is then moved to one of a plurality of the images which represent word-oriented information or a component thereof. When the cursor is activated on the image, a display of information represented by the tool-like icon acting on the word-oriented image is then visually displayed by the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering alphanumerical characters into a push button telephone system having automatic response functions. Each alphabetic letter and character is assigned a keypair having a dual tone multifrequency signal which is stored in the memory of the telephone system. The code provides for the conversion of analog voice frequency signals to digital signals. The digital signals may be converted to analog signals to provide voice prompts to the caller. The letters and characters are sequentially arrayed on a matrix overlaying the telephone keypad. Characters are positioned above and between the push buttons so that each character may be separately accessed from adjacent keys. Entry of a keypair requires the sequential pressing of at least one key two times. Sequential operations that require the pressing of two different and adjacent keys may be performed in any sequence.

Abstract: Observers in the theater of operations use remote units to encode and transmit messages characterizing multiple events observed in theater of operations. The messages are composed from a predefined set of symbolic ideograms, representing and describing actions or objects likely to occur in the theater of operations. A central control center receives the multiple incoming transmissions. The messages are decoded and processed to produce a holistic accumulation of the various observations. According to one embodiment, the accumulation might graphically recompose theater activity according to correlated data received from the observers.

Abstract: Japanese language symbols are entered into a telephone keypad for storage in subsequent name/number recall memory. The kata-kana symbol matrix is used to represent the Japanese language. The matrix is stored in memory and selected keys on a keypad are used to progress through the matrix to identify selected entries within the matrix.

Abstract: A telephone has a first keypad provided with conventionally numbered touch tone keys. A second keypad has a plurality of transparent keys, each provided with a slot for the insertion of a small picture or symbolic representation. Optical fiber may be embedded in each of the transparent keys for illuminating the pictures. The telephone is provided for use with a conventional handset or as a speaker phone. Each of the keys in the second keypad are connected to actuate the speaker phone section of the telephone. The keys of the second keypad are each associated with a memory for the assignment of a telephone number associated with the picture or symbolic representation inserted within the key slot. A large emergency 911 key is also provided. The telephone is designed for use by small children.

Abstract: A display technique allows the user to input information to a computer in the form of color with character text. The technique provides an ergonomic approach to convey information to an application program by using color to specify functions or attributes. Colors are used to reduce the number of interactions necessary to accomplish a task between the user and the application program. In many systems a command has to be typed to save a file. These commands range in size from one to many characters and require the user to key in each character and the filename. The improvement described is a technique for typing the filename in a specified color that the application interprets to mean, for example, Save the file. The technique assigns a color to data elements input to the system. The color is interpreted by the application to indicate what specific function, attribute or value should be associated with the data element.

Abstract: A toothpaste extractor or dispenser having a pneumatic pump connected to a syringe assembly that injects compressed air inside a toothpaste tube thereby urging the phase out through a nozzle positioned above a carrier assembly where the user's toothbrush is engaged. The user's force pushing the carrier in actuates, through a linking assembly, the pneumatic pump. All of these elements are mounted within a housing assembly.