JPH04354014A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily change the inputting function display of an input key even at the time of changing the key array of a key board. CONSTITUTION:A dot matrix type display part 3 is attached to a key top 2 of a key switch 1 of the keyboard. The display part 3 is controlled by a display control part 4, the display of the display part 3 is changed corresponding to key array data which decide the inputting function of each input key, and characters are displayed so that the changed key array can be indicted. When the key switch 1 is depressed, a character code corresponding to the character displayed at the key switch is outputted to the processor of a computer by the keyboard.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard having a large array of input keys for inputting various data.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional keyboards have, for example, a large array of input keys each having a pressed key top and a key switch that detects the pressing of the key top, and the key top has an input function for the input key. There are fixed layout keyboards that are engraved with characters that display . Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, there is also a page selection type keyboard in which characters etc. are engraved on a page selection board 6. In the page selection type keyboard, a character arrangement is selected by turning over the page selection board 6, and character data is input by pressing the key switch 5 corresponding to this arrangement.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, with conventional fixed-array keyboards, characters, etc. are engraved, so there is a problem that the display cannot be changed by changing the input function of the input keys. there were. Further, even with a page selection type keyboard, there is a problem in that the character arrangement can only be selected from pre-prepared character arrangements, but cannot be changed in various ways. Furthermore, since the page selection board is mechanical and operated by humans, there was a problem in that the character arrangement could not be changed from a computer program.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to easily change the input function display of each input key to a corresponding display even if the input function of the input key is changed in various ways. The purpose is to provide a keyboard with a

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the keyboard of the present invention is a keyboard in which a large number of input keys are arranged, each having a key top that is pressed and a key switch that detects the pressing of the key top. A display unit provided on the key top of an input key and displaying an image of the input function of the input key, and a display control unit that changes the display of the display unit in accordance with key arrangement data defining the input function of each input key. It has a different configuration.

[0006] Furthermore, in a keyboard in which a large number of input keys are arranged, each having a key top to be pressed and a key switch for detecting the pressing of the key top, the input key provided on the key top of the input key and projected on the input key is A screen surface that projects a functional image, a projection device that projects the input functional image onto the screen surface, and an image that changes the input functional image projected by the projection device in response to key arrangement data that defines the input function of each input key. The configuration includes a control section.

[0007]

[Operation] According to the keyboard constructed as described above, even if the input function of each input key changes variously, the display of the input keys can be changed in accordance with the key layout data that defines the input function of each input key.

[0008]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The keyboard shown in the figure includes a key top 2 that is pressed and a key switch 1 that detects the pressing of the key top.
This is an arrangement of a large number of input keys. The key top 2 is provided with a dot matrix display section 3 that displays the input functions of the input keys as images, such as characters.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a display control section, which is sent from a processor (not shown) and has a function of changing the display on the display section 3 in accordance with key layout data that defines the input function of each input key.

Therefore, according to the keyboard according to this embodiment, when the display control section 4 receives the key layout data from the processor of the computer, the display control section 4 inputs the input function related to the key layout corresponding to the display device 3 of the key top 2 with characters. etc. When any key switch 1 is pressed in this state, the display control unit 4 examines the character displayed on the key top 2 and outputs a character code corresponding to the character to the processor.

When it is desired to change the key arrangement, new key arrangement data is received from the processor, and the input key function display displayed on the display section 3 of the key top 2 is changed accordingly.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a keyboard according to a second embodiment of the invention. The key switch 1 includes a key top 2 whose upper surface is a screen surface 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes a projection device, which projects an input function image consisting of the characters of the input keys, etc. onto the screen surface 7.

The projection device 8 has an image control function that changes the input function image projected by the device in accordance with key arrangement data that defines the input function of each input key.

Therefore, according to the keyboard according to this embodiment, the projection device 8 receives the key layout data from the processor when the system is started up, and displays the screen surface 7.
An image on which key characters are projected is created and projected onto the screen surface 7. In this way, input functions related to the key arrangement are displayed on the top surface of the key top 2.

When the key switch 1 is pressed in this state, the character displayed on the screen surface 7 of the key switch 1 is checked, and the character code corresponding to the character is output to the processor.

When changing the keyboard layout, the processor sends new key layout data to the projection device 8 again. The projection device 8 modifies the projected image so that an input function image related to the new key arrangement is projected onto the screen surface 7. As described above, the display on the top of the key top can be changed to correspond to the key layout.

[0018]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the keyboard of the present invention, even if the input function is changed by changing the key arrangement of the input keys, the input function display of each input key on the key top can be changed to the key arrangement. This has the advantage that the display can be easily changed to a corresponding display.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a main part diagram showing a keyboard according to an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a main part diagram showing a keyboard according to an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional page selection type keyboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Key switch 2 Key top 3 Display section 4 Display control section 7 Screen surface 8 Projection device

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: In a keyboard in which a large number of input keys are arranged, each having a key top that is pressed and a key switch that detects the pressing of the key top, an image provided on the key top of the input key indicates the input function of the input key. A keyboard comprising: a display section that displays a display; and a display control section that changes the display of the display section in accordance with key layout data that defines the input function of each input key. 2. A keyboard in which a large number of input keys are arranged, each having a key top that is pressed and a key switch that detects the pressing of the key top, wherein the input key is provided on the key top of the input key and is projected. A screen surface that projects a functional image, a projection device that projects the input functional image onto the screen surface, and an image that changes the input functional image projected by the projection device in response to key arrangement data that defines the input function of each input key. A keyboard characterized by comprising a control section.