CROSS KEY CHARACTER INPUT TYPE SMALL KEYBOARD AND SPECIAL CHARACTER INPUTTING METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manufacture a character input device for enabling a user to perform almost all operations and to easily tap characters with few wrong tapping errors at a speed similar to that of inputting Japanese by inputting Roman characters with only both thumbs by uniting the keyboard and the mouse of a conventional personal computer, etc., into a small single body reducing the number of keys. SOLUTION: In this character input device, a numeric key (1) is provided at the left on the top of the main body and an alphabetic key (2) at the right, and a cross key (3) with five keys arranged in a cross shape is provided at the left on the front face, a monitor (7) for displaying a cross cursor (4) at the center, and a memory key (5), a clear key (6) and character input keys (9) at the right. A character string of characters desired to be inputted is selected by using character input keys (9). A key in the cross key (3) located at the same position at that of a character desired to be inputted is pressed down from a character string arranged in a cross shape in the cross cursor (4) displayed on a monitor to determine the input. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO