Character inputting method for a handy phone using a seesaw key and a device therefor

Abstract

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, 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.

What is claimed:  
     
         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 a display 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.    
     
     
         2 . The character inputting method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 scrolling, by pressing at least one of said first and second buttons, the characters appearing on said display 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 . The character inputting method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 moving, by shifting and then pressing at least one of said first and second buttons, a cursor appearing on said display.    
     
     
         4 . The character inputting method according to  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 . The character inputting method according to  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 said display, 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 . The character inputting method according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal unit comprises a handy phone.  
     
     
         7 . A terminal unit comprising: 
 a display;    a first store section storing character sequences;    an input device including a first and a second button capable of being pressed or shifted independently of each other; and    a controller which controls, when pressing at least one of said first and second buttons, a scroll of characters appearing on said display in either one of a vertical and a horizontal direction and in either one of a forward direction and a backward direction;    wherein said controller 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 . The terminal unit according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller scrolls, when at least one of said first and second buttons is pressed, the characters appearing on said display 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 . The terminal unit according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller moves, when at least one of said first and second buttons is pressed, a cursor appearing on a screen of said display.  
     
     
         10 . The terminal unit according to  claim 7 , further comprising a second store section which stores, when fixing the character, information representative of a position of said character in said first store section.  
     
     
         11 . The terminal unit according to  claim 7 , wherein when at least one of said first and second buttons is shifted for correcting a character, said controller positions a cursor at said character on said display, then searches, based on information added to said character, character sequences stored in said first store section to thereby determine a position of said character, and then starts searching the characters at said position.  
     
     
         12 . The terminal unit according to  claim 7 , wherein said first and second buttons comprise a seesaw key.  
     
     
         13 . The terminal unit according to  claim 7 , wherein said terminal unit comprises a handy phone.