JP2004133755A - Wireless keyboard apparatus and receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless keyboard apparatus and a receiver which dispense with interruption of repeat operation even if a reception state in the receiver is made unstable due to reduction in the intensity of electric waves. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless keyboard apparatus comprises a keyboard provided with a wireless transmitter and a receiver connected to a computer and adopts a unidirectional communication system. The receiver is provided with a repeat code reception determination means for determining whether a repeat code transmitted from the wireless transmitter at intervals of a prescribed time has been successfully received or not, and a code transmission control means for maintaining a repeat state when successful reception of the repeat code has been determined by the repeat code reception determination means, and transmits a brake code to the wireless transmitter when successful reception of the repeat code has not been determined. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless keyboard device and a receiver, and more particularly, to a repeat operation of a wireless keyboard device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a wireless keyboard (= wireless keyboard device) using radio waves or infrared rays is configured as a pair with a device main body serving as a host for connecting and operating a keyboard. Specifically, a transmitter that connects to a keyboard and transmits key code data from the keyboard to the personal computer as keyboard transmission data, receives keyboard transmission data transmitted from the transmitter, and transmits the data to the connected personal computer. A handover receiver is provided.
[0003]
The transmitter transmits a Make code of the key when the key of the keyboard is depressed, and transmits a Break code to the receiver when the key is released. Regarding the difference between the make / break codes, a unique key code may be prepared, or an identification bit for distinguishing the make / break code may be provided in the transmission packet.
[0004]
Further, when it is desired to continuously perform the same key input in large numbers, it is not efficient to repeatedly press the key many times in terms of work. Therefore, a wireless keyboard is usually provided with a repeat function so that once a key is pressed, the same output result as when the key is pressed many times is obtained according to the key pressing duration. . FIG. 6 shows an example of a conventional repeat operation in such a wireless keyboard. In the figure, a is data transmitted from the transmitter (hereinafter referred to as keyboard transmission data), b is data received by the receiver (hereinafter referred to as receiver reception data), and c is data transmitted from the receiver to a personal computer. (Hereinafter referred to as receiver transmission data). Hereinafter, an example of a repeat operation in the wireless keyboard will be described with reference to FIG.
[0005]
First, when a key on the keyboard is pressed, a make code is transmitted from the transmitter as keyboard transmission data. The receiver receives the make code from the keyboard, and when it is determined that a key has been pressed, transmits the make code to the personal computer (see (1)). Thereafter, a repeat (Repeat) code transmitted from the wireless keyboard (this repeat code is transmitted, for example, with a bit indicating repeat set in the make code of a key that is being pressed) is received at Trp time intervals. (See (2) to (4)), it is determined that the key is kept being pressed, and the repeat code is transmitted to the personal computer in accordance with the repeat setting of the personal computer. Upon receiving the break code from the keyboard, the receiver transmits the break code to the personal computer, and completes a series of repeat operations.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above-described repeat operation example is an example in which the receiver can stably receive the key code from the keyboard (normal operation example). However, the transmitter and the receiver are connected by wireless or infrared rays or the like. Therefore, if the influence of a shield such as a wall between the two or the distance between the two becomes long, the radio wave becomes weak (weak electric field state) and the reception state may become unstable. If the reception state becomes unstable, problems occur such as communication interruption or the inability to stably receive a key code from a keyboard.
[0007]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a repeat operation of the wireless keyboard in such a case. In this figure, the transmission data from the keyboard is the same as in FIG. After the receiver starts receiving the repeat code of the corresponding key transmitted from the wireless keyboard, the repeat code transmitted from the transmitter cannot be received once due to weak radio waves ((1) Receiver reception). Refer to the X mark in the data). At this time, the receiver judges that the key has been released because it could not receive the repeat code that would be sent at regular intervals, and transmits a break code to the personal computer at that time ((2) receiver transmission See data). Thereafter, when the repeat code is received by the receiver, the make code is transmitted to the personal computer (see (3) receiver transmission data). As described above, conventionally, there has been a problem that the repeat operation is interrupted when the strength of the radio wave is reduced, the reception state at the receiver becomes unstable, and the repeat code cannot be received once. .
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to interrupt the repeat operation even when the strength of the radio wave decreases and the reception state at the receiver becomes unstable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless keyboard device and a receiver which do not need to be used.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a wireless keyboard device of a one-way communication type comprising a keyboard having a wireless transmitter and a receiver connected to a computer. Receiving means for determining whether or not a repeat code transmitted from the wireless transmitter at a predetermined time interval has been received, and receiving the repeat code by the repeat code reception determining means. Code transmission control means for maintaining a repeat state when it is determined to be possible, and for transmitting a break code to the wireless transmitter when it is determined that a repeat code cannot be received. And
[0010]
Further, according to the present invention, as set forth in claim 2, in the wireless keyboard device, the repeat code reception determining means is configured to repeat the repeat code transmitted from the wireless transmitter at a predetermined time interval a predetermined number of times. It is characterized in that the repeat state is maintained when reception is possible.
[0011]
Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless keyboard device, the predetermined number of times is one or several times.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless keyboard device, the repeat code reception determining unit determines in advance a repeat code transmitted from the wireless transmitter at a predetermined time interval. When a predetermined number of signals can be received within a given time, the repeat state is maintained.
[0013]
Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a receiver connected to a computer and performing one-way communication with a keyboard provided with a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter comprising: Repeat code reception determining means for determining whether or not a repeat code transmitted from the apparatus at a predetermined time interval has been received; and if the repeat code reception determination means determines that the repeat code has been received, a repeat state is set. And a code transmission control means for transmitting a break code to the wireless transmitter when it is determined that the repeat code cannot be received.
[0014]
According to the configuration of the present invention, the number of waits or the wait time of the repeat code sent at a predetermined time interval is set in the receiver by the transmitter connected to the wireless keyboard. When a repeat code can be received, or when a predetermined number of repeat codes can be received within the set waiting time, the repeat state is maintained. Therefore, even if the intensity of the radio wave is reduced and the reception state at the receiver becomes unstable, the repeat operation can be preferentially continued and prevented from being interrupted. Therefore, a stable repeat operation can be realized in the wireless keyboard device and the receiver.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless keyboard device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless keyboard device includes a transmitter 1 (= wireless transmitter) connected to a keyboard 200, and a receiver 2 connected to a computer 100 (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer). . The output of the key code from the keyboard 200 is received by the receiver 2 via the transmitter 1 and transmitted from the receiver 2 to the personal computer 100. The personal computer 100 processes data transmitted from the receiver 2 and executes an application or the like.
[0017]
The transmitter 1 and the receiver 2 are configured, for example, as shown in FIG.
[0018]
In FIG. 2, a transmitter 1 includes an input unit 11 to which keyboard transmission data from a keyboard is input, a communication processing unit 12 that converts keyboard transmission data output from the input unit 11 into a predetermined communication format and outputs the same, And a transmitting unit 13 for converting the keyboard transmission data converted into the communication format into a wireless signal and transmitting the signal to an external receiver. Examples of the wireless signal include an RF (Radio Frequency) signal and an infrared signal.
[0019]
The receiver 2 receives transmission data (receiver reception data) of an RF signal transmitted from the transmitter 1 and performs wireless signal processing such as frequency conversion, and transmits data from the reception unit 21 to a predetermined communication. The communication processing unit 22 includes a communication processing unit 22 that converts the data into a format, and a data processing unit 23 that performs processing for converting data from the communication processing unit 22 into data (receiver transmission data) to be output to a personal computer.
[0020]
In the present invention, the reception wait time of the repeat code or the number of reception waits is set in the receiver 2, and if the repeat code can be received within the set time, the repeat state (the state in which the corresponding key is kept pressed) is maintained. If the repeat code cannot be received, the break code is transmitted to the personal computer assuming that the key has been released.
[0021]
Next, a process performed by the receiver 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a repeat control process by the receiver 2 of the wireless keyboard device. Here, it is assumed that the number of times of waiting for the reception of the repeat code set in the receiver 2 is set to one, and the description will proceed below.
[0022]
In FIG. 2, the receiver 2 first waits once to receive a repeat code that would be sent from the transmitter at regular intervals (Trp intervals) after starting the repeat, and checks whether the repeat code was successfully received. A determination is made (S1). When it is determined in this determination (S1) that the repeat code has been received (YES in S1), the repeat state is maintained (S2). On the other hand, when it is determined in the above determination (S1) that the repeat code could not be received (NO in S1), it is determined that the key has been released at that time, and the break code is transmitted to the personal computer (S3). Thereafter, the above process is repeated when the repeat of the corresponding key starts.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for conceptually explaining the processing of FIG. 3 described above, and the repeat code can be normally received with the number of reception waits set in the receiver 2 (here, the number of reception waits = 1). FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a case where a repeat state is sometimes maintained. As shown in the figure, when the repeat code transmitted from the transmitter 1 at regular intervals is normally received once (see (1)), the break code is not transmitted. , The repeat state of the corresponding key is maintained.
[0024]
FIG. 5 is a diagram for conceptually explaining the processing of FIG. 3 as in FIG. 4 described above, and the repeat code is set based on the number of reception waits set in the receiver 2 (here, the number of reception waits = 1). FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a case where a break code is transmitted when a normal reception has failed. As shown in the figure, when the repeat code transmitted from the transmitter 1 at a regular interval is not received normally once (see (1)), the key is released at that time. Then, the break code is transmitted to the personal computer (see (2)).
[0025]
In the above embodiment, the number of times of waiting for reception of the repeat code set in the receiver 2 is assumed to be one, but may be set to n. Since this number is proportional to the waiting time of the repeat code, if the repeat is prioritized, the number of reception waiting times may be set to several times, that is, by increasing the waiting time. In this case, even when the key is actually released and the break code of the key cannot be received, the time for repeating the repeat can be lengthened by setting a longer wait time for the repeat code.
[0026]
As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the number of times of waiting for the reception of the repeat code is set in the receiver 2. However, in addition to this, the reception time of the repeat code is set, and It may be determined whether or not the number of repeat codes received in step (1) is a predetermined number, and if the predetermined number is reached, the repeat state is maintained. For example, if the reception time of the repeat code is set to “50 ms” and the predetermined number of times is set to “once”, if one repeat code is received within 50 ms, it is determined that the repeat code has been received normally and the repeat is performed. Maintain state.
[0027]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the number of waits or the wait time of the repeat code sent from the transmitter 1 at a predetermined time interval is set in the receiver 2, and the set number of waits is set to the set number of waits. When a repeat code for the number of times can be received, or when a predetermined number of repeat codes can be received within the set waiting time, the repeat state is maintained. Therefore, even if the strength of the radio wave decreases and the reception condition at the receiver becomes unstable, the repeat operation can be continued with priority and prevented from being interrupted, and a stable repeat operation can be realized. It is possible.
[0028]
In the above example, the processing function of the communication processing unit of the receiver 2 corresponds to the repeat code reception determining means and the code transmission control means.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the number of times or the waiting time of the repeat code sent at a predetermined time interval is set in the receiver by the transmitter connected to the wireless keyboard, and the set value is set. When a repeat code corresponding to the number of times of waiting has been received, or when a predetermined number of repeat codes have been received within the set waiting time, the repeat state is maintained. Therefore, even if the intensity of the radio wave is reduced and the reception state at the receiver becomes unstable, the repeat operation can be preferentially continued and prevented from being interrupted. Therefore, a stable repeat operation can be realized in the wireless keyboard device and the receiver.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless keyboard device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a transmitter and a receiver shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a repeat control process by the receiver shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a case where a repeat state is maintained when a repeat code can be normally received with the number of reception wait times set in the receiver 2;
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a case where a break code is transmitted when a repeat code cannot be normally received at the number of reception wait times set in the receiver 2.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional repeat operation example (normal operation example) in a wireless keyboard.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a repeat operation in the wireless keyboard when the reception state at the receiver is unstable.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transmitter 2 Receiver 11 Input part 12, 22 Communication processing part 13 Transmission part 21 Receiving part 23 Data processing part 100 Computer (personal computer)
200 keyboard

Claims (8)

A keyboard having a wireless transmitter, and a wireless keyboard device of a one-way communication type comprising a receiver connected to a computer,
The receiver, repeat code reception determining means for determining whether or not a repeat code transmitted at a predetermined time interval from the wireless transmitter has been received,
In the repeat code reception determining means, if it is determined that the repeat code has been received, the repeat state is maintained, and if it is determined that the repeat code has not been received, a break code is transmitted to the wireless transmitter. A wireless keyboard device comprising: The wireless keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein
The wireless keyboard device, wherein the repeat code reception determining means maintains a repeat state when a repeat code transmitted from the wireless transmitter at a predetermined time interval can be received a predetermined number of times. The wireless keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein
The said predetermined number of times is once or several times, The wireless keyboard apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The wireless keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein
The wireless keyboard device, wherein the repeat code reception determining means maintains a repeat state when a predetermined number of repeat codes transmitted from the wireless transmitter are received within a predetermined time. A receiver connected to the computer and performing one-way communication with a keyboard having a wireless transmitter,
Repeat code reception determining means for determining whether a repeat code transmitted at a predetermined time interval from the wireless transmitter has been received,
In the repeat code reception determining means, if it is determined that the repeat code has been received, the repeat state is maintained, and if it is determined that the repeat code has not been received, a break code is transmitted to the wireless transmitter. And a code transmission control means. The receiver according to claim 5, wherein
The receiver according to claim 1, wherein the repeat code reception determining means maintains a repeat state when a repeat code transmitted from the wireless transmitter at predetermined time intervals has been received a predetermined number of times. The receiver according to claim 6, wherein
The predetermined number of times is one or several times. The receiver according to claim 5, wherein
The receiver according to claim 1, wherein said repeat code reception determining means maintains a repeat state when a predetermined number of repeat codes transmitted from said wireless transmitter have been received within a predetermined time.

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