JPH06203063A - Electronic dictionary - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide an electronic dictionary that can omit the character input operation again when searching for the same entry word in two or more dictionaries. When a dictionary is switched to another dictionary while the dictionary selection keys 4 to 7 are selected, the CPU 20 prevents the character string of the entry word entered by the keyboard 23 from being cleared.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic dictionary in which a character string of an entry word is input, language information such as translation information or related information is retrieved from a dictionary information storage section and displayed on a display section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional electronic dictionary, in order to search for desired linguistic information, a character string of a headword is input with a keyboard, and a language stored in a dictionary information storage unit is input according to the input character string. Searching for information. However, the electronic dictionary body contains a plurality of dictionaries, such as a Japanese language dictionary, a Japanese-English dictionary, a Hanwa dictionary, an English-Japanese dictionary, etc., and each dictionary is selected by a dedicated dictionary selection key or a selection means such as a menu display. It is supposed to be selected. In this case, when searching for a headword in a dictionary different from the currently used dictionary, the desired headword is input again using the keyboard after selecting the dictionary mode by the selecting means.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
After searching for entry words in one dictionary, if you want to search for different information of the same entry word in another dictionary, switch the dictionary mode and then enter the character string of the same entry word again to perform the search. It had to be done, and the operation was complicated.

For example, if the user wants to know the English translation after inputting the character string of the entry word "specific" and searching the corresponding information in the Japanese dictionary, once the dictionary mode is changed to the Japanese-English dictionary mode. After switching to, it is necessary to carry out the procedure of inputting the character string "GUTAIKI" again as the entry word by the keyboard and performing the search.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an electronic dictionary which can omit the character input operation again when searching for the same entry word in two or more dictionaries is provided. It is intended to be provided.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a character string of the same headword in an electronic dictionary in which a character string of the headword is input by a keyboard and information attached to the headword is searched. And a selection means for selecting a plurality of dictionaries each having an entry and a clearing of the character string of the entry word input by the keyboard when switching to another dictionary while one dictionary is selected by the selection means. It is characterized by having a clearing prevention means.

[0007]

When one dictionary is selected by the selecting means and the dictionary is switched to another dictionary, the clear blocking means prevents the clearing of the character string of the entry word entered by the keyboard.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an electronic dictionary according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an electronic dictionary main body, and on the upper surface of the case 2, an alphabet key group A to Z, first, second, third and fourth dictionary selection keys 4, 5 are provided. ，
Reference numerals 6 and 7, a conversion key 8 and a display section 9 are provided respectively. The first to fourth dictionary selection keys 4 to 7 are keys for selecting each dictionary of Japanese, English, Chinese, and English.
The conversion key 8 is a key for inputting search instruction information of each of the dictionaries having a character string input by the alphabet key group 3 as an entry word. The display unit 9 displays headwords, search results, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the electronic dictionary 1 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that controls the entire electronic dictionary 1.
Is. The CPU 20 includes a read only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) 21, a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) 22, an alphabet key group 3, first to fourth dictionary selection keys 4 to 7 and a conversion key 8. The keyboard 23 and the display drive unit 24 are connected.

The ROM 21 has a control program memory 21a storing a control program executed by the CPU 20 for controlling the entire electronic dictionary 1, a national language dictionary memory 21b storing national language dictionary data, and a Japanese-English dictionary storing Japanese-English dictionary data. A memory 21c, a Hanwa dictionary memory 21d that stores Hanwa dictionary data, and an English-Japanese dictionary memory 21e that stores English-Japanese dictionary data are provided, respectively.

The RAM 22 is provided with an entry word character string storage area 22a for storing the entry word character string input by the alphabet key group 3 of the keyboard 23, a work area 22b for various programs, and a temporary save area 22c. There is.

The display drive section 24 drives the display screen of the display section 9 under the control of the CPU 20. The display unit 9 displays characters according to the display drive of the display drive unit 24.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a concrete key operation and a display example on the display unit 9 when the dictionaries of the Japanese language dictionary, the Japanese-English dictionary and the English-Japanese dictionary are mutually switched in this embodiment. First, when the power of the electronic dictionary main body 1 is turned on, as shown at 31 in the figure, the national language dictionary stands up and the character input screen is displayed on the display unit 9. Next, in the figure,
As shown in 32, when the character string of "GUTAITEKI" is input by the alphabet key group 3, the Roman character kana conversion is performed, and the kana character string of "Gutaiteki" is displayed on the display unit 9 and, at the same time, the kana character string. Is stored in the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22. Next, as shown by 33 in FIG. 3, when the conversion key 8 is pressed, a kana character string "GUTAIKI" is searched for a headline, and the Chinese character information and the semantic information are displayed on the display unit 9.

Here, when the Japanese-English dictionary key which is the second dictionary selection key 5 is pressed, the character input screen of the Japanese-English dictionary is displayed as shown by 34 in FIG. 3, and the input is made in the national language dictionary mode. A kana character string such as "Guitai" is displayed on the display unit 9 as it is. Further, since the data in the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22 is also saved, when the conversion key 8 is pressed here, the kanji information for the kana character string "Guitai" and its English translation "CONCRETE" are displayed. Displayed on the display unit 9 as indicated by 35 out of 3.

When the English-Japanese dictionary key, which is the fourth dictionary selection key 7, is pressed in the display state 33 shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 9 displays English-Japanese as shown at 36 in FIG. The screen switches to the character input screen of the dictionary, but in this case, the English-Japanese dictionary is a dictionary that searches for alphabetic character strings, so the kana character string "Guitai" cannot be searched. Therefore, this character string is It is automatically deleted from the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22 and is not displayed on the display unit 9.

Further, when the Japanese-English dictionary key 5 or the English-Japanese dictionary key 7 is pressed on the character input screen of the national dictionary shown by 32 in FIG. 3, the Japanese-English dictionary character input screen 34 and the English-Japanese dictionary character input screen 34 shown in FIG. 3 are respectively displayed. In FIG. 3, the screen is switched to the English-Japanese dictionary character input screen 36, and the same processing as when switching from the screen shown in FIG. 3 33 is performed.

Next, based on the control program stored in the control program memory 21a in the ROM 21, C
The control procedure executed by the PU 20 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In FIG. 4, when the power is turned on, the hardware initial processing is executed, and then step S40.
1, the entry word character string storage area 2 of the RAM 22
2a is cleared. Next, step S40.
After each of the determinations of 2 to step S404, the process branches to the dictionary function used immediately before the power is turned on this time.

Next, the control procedure of the dictionary function will be described using the national language dictionary as an example with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 3, first, in step S501, the display of the character input screen of the Japanese language dictionary, that is, 31 in FIG.
The display processing of the screen is performed. Next, in step S502, the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22.
It is checked whether or not a character string is stored therein, and if not stored, step S503 is skipped and the process proceeds to the key weight process of step S504. If the character string is stored in step S502, the stored character string is displayed on the display unit 9 in step S503, and then the key weight process of the next step S504 is performed.

Next, in step S505, it is checked whether or not the conversion key 8 is pressed. If the conversion key 8 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S506, and the character string in the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22 is checked. After searching the national language dictionary and extracting the corresponding kanji information and semantic information, the search result is displayed on the display unit 9 in step S507. That is, it is the display of the screen 33 shown in FIG.

If the conversion key 8 is not pressed in step S505, step S508 is performed.
The process proceeds to step S510, and it is checked whether or not the Japanese-English key 5 is pressed in step S508, the Hanwa dictionary key which is the third dictionary selection key 6 in step S509, and the English-Japanese dictionary key 7 is pressed in step S510. When each of the dictionary selection keys 5 to 7 is pressed in each of these steps S508 to S510, the processing is branched to the processing of each dictionary of the Japanese-English dictionary (b), the Hanwa dictionary (c), and the English-Japanese dictionary (d). .

Next, in step S511, when the national language dictionary key, which is the first dictionary selection key 4, is pressed, step S of the national language dictionary processing routine shown in FIG. 5 is performed again.
Return to 501. Furthermore, when the alphabet key group 3 is pressed in step S512, step S5
In 513, the character code corresponding to the pressed key is additionally stored in the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22, and at the same time, the character character indicated by the same character code is additionally displayed on the display unit 9. In addition, the step S5
If the alphabet key group 3 is not pressed at 12, it is considered that the valid key is not pressed, and the process returns to the key weight process of step S504 again.

After the search result of the Chinese character information and the semantic information for the entry word character string is displayed in step S507, the key weight process shown in step S514 of FIG. 6 is performed, and steps S515 to S517. It is checked whether or not each of the dictionary selection keys 4 to 7 is pressed, and if any of the dictionary selection keys is pressed, the Japanese-English dictionary (b), the Hanwa dictionary (c) corresponding to each key, Move to each processing of English-Japanese dictionary (d).

If the national language dictionary key 4 is pressed in step S518, the process returns to step S501. Next, if the clear key is pressed in step S519, after clearing the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22 in step S520,
The process returns to step S501 again.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of the English-Japanese dictionary.

In step S601 of the figure, the character input screen of the English-Japanese dictionary is displayed on the display unit 9, and step S60 is executed.
2, the entry word character string storage area 22 of the RAM 22
It is checked whether or not a character string is stored in a, and if it is stored, it is determined in step S603 whether or not the character string is an English character string, that is, it is switched from a Japanese dictionary, a Japanese-English dictionary, or the like. Check whether or not it is. If it is determined that the character is not an English character (kana or the like), the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22 is cleared in step S605, and then the process proceeds to step S606 to perform the key wait process.

If it is determined in step S603 that the character string is an English character string, the process proceeds to step S604 and R
The character string stored in the entry word character string storage area 22a of the AM 22 is displayed on the display unit 9.

Next, when the conversion key 8 is pressed in step S607, the process proceeds to step S608,
After searching the English-Japanese dictionary memory 21e of the ROM 21 for the character string in the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22 and extracting the corresponding Japanese translation information, step S60
At 9, the search result is displayed on the display unit 9.

If the conversion key 8 is not pressed in step S607, the process proceeds to steps S610 to S612, the Japanese dictionary key 4 in step S610, the Japanese-English dictionary key 5 in step S611, and the Hanwa dictionary key 6 in step S612. Whether or not is pressed is checked, and if it is pressed, the processing is branched to the processing of each dictionary of the Japanese dictionary (a), the Japanese-English dictionary (b) and the Hanwa dictionary (c). If the English-Japanese dictionary key 7 is pressed in step S613, the process returns to step S601 again.

If the alphabet key group 3 is pressed in step S614, step S61 is performed.
5, the entry word character string storage area 22 of the RAM 22
The character code corresponding to the pressed alphabetic key group 3 is additionally stored, and at the same time, the character character indicated by the character code is additionally displayed in the character input screen of the display unit 9.

If the key pressed in step S614 is not the alphabet key group 3, it is regarded that the key is not a valid key, and the step S60 is executed again.
Return to the key weight processing of 6.

Next, after the search results are displayed in step S609 as described above, the key weight process is performed in step S616 in FIG. 8 and step S61 is performed.
If it is determined that any one of the dictionary selection keys is pressed in 7 to step S619, each processing of the Japanese dictionary (a), the Japanese-English dictionary (b), and the Hanwa dictionary (c) is corresponding to the pressed key. Transition to.

If the English-Japanese dictionary key 7 is pressed in step S620, the process returns to step S601.

If the clear key is pressed in step S621, the RAM 2 is loaded in step S622.
After clearing the entry word character string storage area 22a of No. 2, the process returns to step S601.

Similar processing is performed for dictionaries other than the dictionary function described above, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

In the first embodiment described above, switching to each dictionary is performed by pressing the dedicated dictionary selection keys 4 to 7 for each dictionary, but the present invention is not limited to this. In order to reduce the number of keys and simplify the keyboard unit 23, a menu screen is displayed on the display unit 9,
A method of selecting each dictionary by selecting an item on the menu with the alphabet key group 3 or the numeric keys is also conceivable.

This embodiment adopts such a method, and FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an electronic dictionary according to this embodiment. In FIG. 9, it is the same as FIG. 1 of the first embodiment. The same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. The block structure of the electronic dictionary in this embodiment is the same as that in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment, and therefore FIG.

The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the first to fourth dictionary selection keys 4 to 7 in FIG. 1 are not provided,
Instead, one menu key 10 is provided. By pressing this menu key 10, a menu screen described later is displayed, and each dictionary can be selected.

FIG. 10 shows a key operation and its display example in the present embodiment.

First, when the power of the electronic dictionary 1 is turned on, FIG.
During 0, a menu screen is displayed on the display unit 9 as indicated by 81. On the menu screen, the names of the dictionaries and the alphabet characters for selecting them are displayed in pairs. Here, when the'A 'key 3 ₁ of the alphabet key group 3 is pressed to select the national language dictionary, 82 in FIG.
As shown in, the character input screen of the national language dictionary is displayed on the display unit 9. Also in Figure 10 by selecting the English-Japanese dictionary presses the 'D' key 3 _two of the alphabet key group 3, the display unit 9, as shown in 83 is displayed in the English-Japanese dictionary character input screen.

Next, when the character string of "GUTAITEKI" is input by the alphabet key group 3 on the screen shown in 82 in FIG. 10, Roman character kana conversion is performed, and the kana character "Guitaiki" appears at 84 in FIG. It is displayed on the display unit 9 as shown, and at the same time, the kana character string is
It is stored in the headline character string storage area 22a of the AM 22. Next, in FIG. 10, when the conversion key 8 is pressed in the state of 84, the Japanese dictionary memory 21b is searched for the kana character string "GUTAIKI", and the kanji information and the semantic information are obtained. Displayed on the display unit 9 as indicated by reference numeral 85.

When the menu key 10 is pressed again, the menu screen is displayed again on the display unit 9 as indicated by 86 in FIG. 10, and the dictionary selection is awaited. When the Japanese-English dictionary is selected by pressing the'B 'key 3 ₃ of the alphabetic key group 3, the "guidance type" stored in the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22 is shown as 87 in FIG. Kana character string is displayed on the display 9
Will be automatically displayed in the Japanese-English dictionary character input screen of
By simply pressing the conversion key 8, the Japanese-English dictionary can be searched for this character string.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
By adopting a menu selection method for switching each dictionary, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated dictionary selection key for each dictionary, and the keyboard 23 is simplified. Of course, this dictionary selection is not only assigned to each key of the alphabet key group 3, but also assigned to a numeric key and each dictionary name is displayed in a menu in a pair with a numeric character string, whereby the dictionary selection is realized by pressing the numeric key. It's also easy.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 11 and by diverting FIG.

In the above-mentioned first embodiment, an example in which all the data is built in the electronic dictionary main body 1 has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an IC card slot is provided and this data is stored in this slot. A method of expanding the dictionary (type) by inserting an IC card for dictionary data is also considered.

This embodiment adopts such a method, and FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the electronic dictionary according to this embodiment.

In the figure, 90 is a CPU for controlling the entire electronic dictionary of this embodiment. 91 is a main body case 2
It is a first ROM built in, and stores a control program memory 91a that stores a control program executed by the CPU 90 for controlling the operation of the entire electronic dictionary 1, a national language dictionary memory 91b that stores national language dictionary data, and a Hanwa dictionary data. A Hanwa dictionary memory 91d and an English-Japanese dictionary memory 91e storing English-Japanese dictionary data are provided.

Reference numeral 92 denotes a RAM, which is an entry word character string storage area 92a for storing a character string of the entered entry word,
It has a work area 92b for various programs and a temporary save area 92c. Reference numeral 94 is a display drive unit, and 95 is a display unit.

Reference numeral 96 denotes a second ROM built in the IC card 97, which is connected to the electronic dictionary body 1 by a connector.
Is connected to a predetermined location. In this embodiment, the second ROM 96 is provided with a Japanese-English dictionary memory 96a which stores Japanese-English dictionary data. And this IC
By inserting the card 97 into an IC card slot (not shown) provided in the case 2, various dictionaries can be expanded.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 and by diverting FIG.

In the above-described first embodiment, when the dictionary is switched, the character string stored in the entry word character string storage area 22a of the RAM 22 is cleared depending on the character type such as the English character or the kana character. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, when the dictionary built in Case 2 is a translation dictionary of multiple languages (English-German, English-French, German-English, French-English, German-French, French-German dictionary, etc.), the input character string is Since the characters are alphabetic characters and special characters of European languages, it is not always possible to determine what the source language is based on the character type of the input character string.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, each dictionary built in Case 2 is provided with linguistic information indicating what language the entry word is in, and when the dictionaries are switched, the dictionary that is currently selected is selected. , The character string in the character input buffer corresponding to the headword character string storage area of the first embodiment is left only when the heading languages of the dictionary to be switched coincide with each other, and when they do not coincide, the character string is cleared. It is designed to perform the process of doing.

In FIG. 12, Case 2 shows English-German, English-French, German-English,
RO of dictionary data of an electronic dictionary with built-in French-English, German-French, French-German dictionaries and linguistic information indicating what the entry word is
It is a figure which shows the storage state in M. At the beginning of each dictionary data in the figure, language information indicating the attribute of each headword is attached.

For example, in the English-French dictionary and the English-German dictionary, since the headword is English, the language number 01 (101, 10)
2) However, French-English and French-German dictionaries have French language number 02
(103, 104), and German-English and French-German dictionaries are provided with German language number 03 (105, 106).

Next, the operation of the electronic dictionary will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 13 by taking the case where the English-French dictionary is selected as an example.

In the figure, after the power is turned on, first, the character input format screen is displayed on the display unit 9 in step S1101, and then the character input process is performed in step S1102. Further, if the conversion key 8 is pressed here, the English-French dictionary search process is performed on the input character string in step S1103, and the search result is displayed on the display unit 9.
Is displayed in.

Next, in step S1104, key wait processing is performed, and if the dictionary selection keys 4 to 7 are pressed in step S1105, step S110.
In step 6, the English-French dictionary is switched to the dictionary corresponding to the pressed key.

Next, in step S1107, the language number information stored in the dictionary after switching is read out, and in step S1108 this language number becomes the language number of the dictionary (English-French dictionary) before switching. It is judged whether they are the same "01" (English) and "01"
If it is, it means that the attributes of the headline character string are the same, and the process returns to step S1101 again while leaving the character string in the character input buffer.

Also, in the step S1108, "01"
If it is a number other than the above, it means that the attribute of the headline character string has changed, so that the character input buffer is cleared in step S1110, and then the step S
Return to 1101.

If the key pressed in step S1105 is not the dictionary selection keys 4 to 7, step S1
In 109, it is determined whether the key is a clear key. If the key is a clear key, the character input buffer is cleared in step S1110. If it is not the clear key, the process returns to the key wait process in step S1104.

[0067]

As described above, according to the electronic dictionary of the present invention, even if the dictionary is switched, the index word character string currently being searched for is stored in the index word character string storage area, or
By storing in the character input buffer, you do not need to input the same character string again after switching the dictionary even when searching the auxiliary information (language information) of another dictionary for the entry word of the same character string. It has the effect of being simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an electronic dictionary according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit in the electronic dictionary.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a key operation and a display example in the electronic dictionary.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure immediately after power-on in the electronic dictionary.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a national language dictionary function in the electronic dictionary.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a national language dictionary function in the electronic dictionary.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of an English-Japanese dictionary function in the electronic dictionary.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of an English-Japanese dictionary function in the electronic dictionary.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an electronic dictionary according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a key operation and a display example in the electronic dictionary.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit in an electronic dictionary according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a structure of dictionary data in an electronic dictionary according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the electronic dictionary.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 electronic dictionary body 3 alphabet key 4 national language dictionary selection key (selection means) 5 Japanese-English dictionary selection key (selection means) 6 Hanwa dictionary selection key (selection means) 7 English-Japanese dictionary selection key (selection means) 20 CPU (clearing prevention means) 23 keyboard

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electronic dictionary for inputting a character string of a heading word with a keyboard and searching ancillary information for the heading word, selecting means for selecting a plurality of dictionaries having the same character string of the heading word, and the selecting means. An electronic dictionary having a clear blocking unit for blocking clearing of a character string of an entry word input by the keyboard when one dictionary is switched to another dictionary by. 2. The electronic dictionary according to claim 1, further comprising an IC card slot, wherein the dictionary can be expanded by inserting an IC card into the IC card slot.