# US 8,571,260 B2 · Character input apparatus and character input method

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- Number: US 8,571,260 B2
- Document ID: US8571260B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/473,016
- Filed: 2009-05-27
- Published: 2009-12-03
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2008-05-27
- Assignees: Ntt Docomo, Inc.
- Applicants: Hitoshi Yamazaki; Kazuya Anzawa; Kentaro Endo; Toshihiko Kamiya
- Inventors: Hitoshi Yamazaki; Kazuya Anzawa; Kentaro Endo; Toshihiko Kamiya
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571260B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)}
- G06F 3/018: {Input/output arrangements for oriental characters}
- G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A character input apparatus includes a liquid crystal monitor 104 which overlappingly displays a character selection screen 101a that displays character selection information for accepting a character input from a user, and a character display area 101b that displays a character selected from the character selection screen 101a; an eye-gaze tracker 201 for detecting a finger of the user by tracking the eye-gaze of the user; and a controller 202 for controlling the liquid crystal monitor 104 so as to display the character display area 101b in a location that accords with the location of the finger detected by the eye-gaze tracker 201.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A character input apparatus comprising:
a displaying unit that overlappingly displays a character selection screen that displays character selection information for accepting a character input from a user and a character display area that displays a character selected from the character selection screen;
a detecting unit that detects a finger of the user by tracking the eye-gaze of the user; and
a controlling unit that controls the displaying unit so as to display the character display area in a location that does not overlap with the finger of the user, the location of which has been detected by the detecting unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The character input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a converting unit that carries out kanji conversion processing for a character that has been displayed in the character display area, wherein the controlling unit executes control such that a character that has been displayed in the character display area is cleared when the converting unit carries out conversion processing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The character input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlling unit also controls the displaying unit so as to display the character display area in a location that is near the finger of the user.

### Claim 4

A character input method, comprising:
overlappingly displaying a character selection screen that displays character selection information for accepting a character input from a user and a character display area that displays a character selected from the character selection screen;
detecting a finger of the user by tracking the eye-gaze of the user; and
executing control so as to display the character display area in a location that does not overlap with the finger of the user, the location of which has been detected.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The character input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a converting unit that carries out conversion processing for a character that has been displayed in the character display area, wherein the controlling unit executes control such that a character that has been displayed in the character display area is cleared when the converting unit carries out conversion processing.