JPH0221023B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an information retrieval device such as an electronic dictionary or an electronic encyclopedia. The present invention provides an information retrieval device characterized in that it outputs the first headword starting with a character or an input character string.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on Examples.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the appearance of an electronic English-Japanese dictionary with a computer function, which is an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is the power on/clear key, 2 is the power off key, 3 is the return search key, 4 is the forward search key (return search key 3 and forward search key 4 are the first keys), and 5 is the character key. (second key), 6 is the translation key, 7 is the display section, 8 is the display section 7
The character index “A-Z” printed at the top of the
9 is a dot pointer display indicating the currently designated character in relation to the characters "A to Z", 10 is a display of the first input character, and 11 is a cursor display.

Note that keys other than the above-mentioned keys are keys that are operated when using this embodiment as a computer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing key operations and a display based on the key operations when outputting the translation of the word "BOAT."

First, when the feed search key 4 is operated, a dot indicating the specified character is displayed below the letter "A", and the most significant digit of the display section 7 is displayed, indicating that the specified character is "A". “A” is displayed on the screen. Next, if you operate the feed search key 4, the display of the above dot will move below the letter "B", and
The display of the most significant digit also changes to "B". Here, by operating the character input key 5, the character "B" is input and the cursor is displayed at the second digit.

Next, when the return search key 3 is operated, the dot display returns to below the letter "A" and "A" is displayed in the second digit. If the user continues to operate the return search key 3, the display of the dot will move below the character "Z" and the character displayed in the second digit will also change to "Z". Continuing to operate the return search key 3 in this way, the dot display moves below the letter "O" and when the second digit character display becomes "O", operate the character input key 5. Then, the letter "O" is input, a search is performed for the first word starting with the input character string "BO", and the word "BOARD" is displayed.

Next, by operating the feed search key 4, the word "BOAT" next to "BOARD" is displayed in alphabetical order. If the translation key 6 is operated here, the translated word "Boat, Kobune" will be displayed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration.

In the figure, 12 is a microprocessor, 13
1 is a key input device, 14 is a memory for storing dictionary information, 15 is a display control section, and 7 is a display section.

The microprocessor 12 is a key input device 13
The operated key is determined by outputting the key strobe signal KS and reading the key input signal KI. It also specifies the address of the memory 14 and reads its contents. The display control unit 15 is a type of memory that stores lighting and non-lighting in correspondence with each dot on the display unit 7, and the microprocessor 12 writes information corresponding to the display pan into the display control unit 15. The desired display is thereby performed. Note that 16 is an address bus, and 17 is a data bus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing part of the contents stored in the memory 14.

Pairs of English words and their translations are arranged in alphabetical order of the English words.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the microprocessor 12. However, only the parts related to the present invention are described.

In the figure, F ₁ is a flag indicating that the forward search key () or return search key () has already been operated, and F ₂ is the character input key (IN).
Flag indicating that has been operated once, F ₃
is a flag indicating that the second character input key operation has been performed and the search for the first word has already been completed, and these flags F ₁ , F ₂ , and F ₃ are means for detecting each state. SC is the letter number Batsuhua,
[SC] is a character corresponding to the character number stored in the buffer SC, and B is a buffer.

The correspondence between characters and character numbers is “A←→1,
B←→2, C←→3,…, X←→24, Y←→25, Z←→
26"
It's becoming like that.

The operation will be explained below, taking as an example the case where the translation of the word "BOAT" is displayed.

After the power is turned on, flags F ₁ , F ₂ and F ₃ are reset. Here, if you operate the feed search key,
"1" is input to the character number buffer SC, and the flag _F1 is set. Based on the input of "1" to SC, the display shown in FIG. 21 is performed. If you continue to operate the feed search key, this time
Since _F1 is set, SC is counted up. Based on this, the display shown in FIG. 2 is performed.

If you operate the character input key here, the flag F ₂
is set, and the character corresponding to the contents of SC, ie, "B", is input into buffer B (FIG. 2, 3).

Next, if you operate the return search key, the SC will count down and its contents will become "1". Based on this, the display shown in FIG. 2 is performed. If you continue to operate the return search key, the SC content will become 0 due to the countdown, so "26" will be the SC.
is input. Based on this, the display shown in FIG. 25 is performed. From then on, by continuing to operate the return search key, the SC will be counted down sequentially.
When the content becomes "15", the display becomes as shown in FIG. 26.

At this point, if you operate the character input keys, the flag will be displayed.
Since F ₂ is set, after the character corresponding to the contents of SC, ie "O", is input into buffer B, a search is performed for the first word starting with the input string "BO", and "BOARD" is searched. is read out. Then flag _F3 is set. As a result, the display shown in FIG. 27 is performed.

Next, if you operate the forward search key, this time flag F ₃ is set, so the next word,
In other words, "BOAT" is read out, and as shown in FIG.
The display shown in is displayed.

Once the desired word has been read out, if you operate the translation key, the corresponding stored translation will be read out, and after the flags F ₁ , F ₂ , and F ₃ are reset,
The display is performed. [Figure 2 9].

FIG. 6 shows that when it is detected that the forward search key () or the return search key () has been pressed for a predetermined period of time, the specified character or This is a flowchart when forwarding or returning headwords is performed.

In the figure, _F4 is a flag indicating that the search key has been pressed for a predetermined time, C is a counter, and Cm is a set value corresponding to the predetermined time.

As explained above, according to the present invention, a search can be automatically started by simply inputting a predetermined number of characters without requiring any operation of a search key, and a search for information starting with a predetermined number of input characters can be performed. It can be carried out.

Also, when reading out information that precedes or follows the searched information, the key can also be used to input characters.
By operating this key, you can output the previous and subsequent information,
The number of keys can be significantly reduced.

As described above, the number of keys can be reduced and key operations can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the external appearance of an electronic English-Japanese dictionary with a computer function, which is an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a key for outputting the translation of the word "BOAT" in the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing part of the contents of the memory that stores dictionary information in the embodiment. , FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the microprocessor in the same embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart in another embodiment. Code, 1: Power on and clear key, 2: Power off key, 3: Return search key, 4: Forward search key, 5: Character input key, 6: Translation key, 7: Display section, 8: “A to Z” Character, 9: Dot display indicating specified character, 10: Display of first input character,
11: Cursor display, 12: Microprocessor, 13: Key input device, 14: Memory for storing dictionary information, 15: Display control unit, 16: Address bus, 17: Data bus, KS: Key strobe signal, KI : Key input signal, F ₁ , F ₂ , F ₃ , F ₄ :
Flag, SC: Character number buffer, [SC]: Character corresponding to the character number stored in buffer SC, B: buffer, C: counter, Cm: set value.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first key means for selecting an input character; a second key means for inputting a character selected by the first key means; and the first and second key means for inputting the character selected by the first key means. a detection means for detecting when the number of characters inputted by the key means reaches a predetermined number of characters; a memory configured to store information to be searched in a predetermined order; and a memory responsive to the detection by the detection means. search control means for searching the memory for the first information starting with the character inputted by the search control means; An information retrieval device comprising: means for reading information stored in the order from the memory.