JPS60100221A - Operating device of information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a small-sized, inexpensive and handy operating device by arranging a display device for switches which are arranged in a matrix near the switches. CONSTITUTION:A keyboard is formed by arranging plural switches 21 in a matrix. The display device 11 made of a liquid-crystal panel displays a function display part 112 of electronic equipment and a display symbol 111 indicating a column of plural switches 21 on the keyboard 2 on itself. This display device 11 has display symbols 111 of arrows correcponding to respective columns at the pitch of respective columns of the switches 21. Further, a display device 12 is arranged on the row side of the switches 21 and display symbols 121 of arrows are arranged corresponding to respective rows at each pitch; and some of them are turned on or flashed to indicate the row of a desired switch 21. Thus, the desired switch is indicated at the intersection of the column and row indicated by arrows 111 and 12a on both display devices 11 and 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating device for inputting instructions and data to an information processing device such as a personal computer.

Conventional configurations and their problems In general, the key operation procedures for inputting data and giving instructions to information processing devices such as personal computers are complex, and require tedious training and a learning period for amateurs to master them. This hindered the spread of useful tools. As a solution to this problem, there is a method in which the name of the key to be operated next by the user and the operation method are displayed on the display screen. A simple example of this method is shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is a display device, and the name of the key to be operated next by the user is displayed at the bottom of the display screen. The user only needs to read the information on the display screen, find a key on the keyboard 2, and operate it. This method is convenient because the operating steps are displayed one after another, but it takes up valuable display space and requires time-consuming operations because the displayed text must be deciphered and the designated key searched for on the keyboard. This has the disadvantage of interrupting the user's flow of thought.

Therefore, as a method to intuitively indicate the keys to be operated,
As shown in the figure, there is a method in which an indicator such as a light emitting diode is placed near each key switch 21, and the indicator of the key to be operated lights up or blinks to notify the user.

In this method, it is possible to determine which key to operate by viewing the indicator group on the keyboard 2, but it has the disadvantage that it is cumbersome to list as the number of keys increases, and it is costly. However, the key arrangement was limited by the arrangement of the indicators, making it difficult to make the device smaller and thinner.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, is easy to use,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an operating device for an information processing device that has a compact key operation guide function.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a keyboard in which a plurality of switches are arranged in a matrix, a display device is arranged in the first row and column of the matrix around or inside the keyboard, and a display device arranged in this row is provided. A symbol indicating the row of switches is displayed on the display surface of the device, and seven symbols indicating the row of switches are displayed on the display surface of the display device arranged in columns, and at the intersection of the row and column indicated by these two symbols, A feature of this system is that it is configured to identify a designated switch.

Description of examples FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the operating device of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a display consisting of a liquid crystal display panel, and in this embodiment, a display symbol 1 indicates a function display section 112 of the electronic device and a row of a plurality of switches 21 of the keyboard 2.
11a, 111b...111n are displayed on one display device. In this display 11, arrow display symbols 112 are arranged corresponding to each column in accordance with the pitch of each column of switches 21 arranged in a matrix, and some of them are lit or blinking to attract attention. Indicates a row of switches. A display 12 is also arranged on the row side of the plurality of switches 21, and arrow display symbols 121 a , 121 are displayed corresponding to each row in accordance with the pitch of each row of switches 21 arranged in a matrix.
b--121n are arranged, and a part of them lights up or d blinks to indicate the row of switches to be noticed. The switch at the intersection of the column and row indicated by the lighting or blinking arrows 111 and 121 on the display 11 and 12 is the switch that should be noted, and the switch that the user of this electronic device should operate next. , or the switch that was just operated. Which of these is determined by the information processing device inside the electronic device.

The relationship between matrix display symbols and switches is shown in Figures 4 and 6.
Shown in the figure. Black arrows are display symbols that are lit or flashing, and dotted arrows are display symbols that are off. FIG. 4 is the same as FIG. 3, with display symbols 111b,
This is an example showing a switch at the intersection of 111C and the display symbol 112b, and FIG. 6 is an example showing 2 inches at the intersection of the display symbols 111a and 121a. In this way, any number of switches greater than or equal to one can be specified.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the information processing device. In FIG. 6, a microprocessor (hereinafter abbreviated as MPU) 3
The address/data/control bus 7 of the ROM 4. has a built-in program for controlling the operation of the MPUa. RAM for data and programs5. and an input device 2, including a keyboard with the aforementioned switches. The aforementioned indicator 11.1
2 and a device 1 for driving each of the above-mentioned indicators 11 and 12.
13 and 123 are connected to constitute a known information processing device.

It is also known that various peripheral devices such as a printer 6 or a communication device 8 can be connected to the path line 7 to expand the capabilities of the information processing device, so a detailed explanation will be omitted here.

As is well known, MPU3 reads the program in ROM4,
Execute. When the MPU 3 issues an instruction to the user, the instruction content is displayed on the display surface of the display 11, for example) = Knee 1. CAL
At the same time, an arrow is displayed on the display surface of the display 11.12 to indicate the row and column 1 of the switch to be operated by the user. Notify the user by lighting or flashing the symbol. This function can be programmed using known technology and incorporated into the ROM4.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the currently operated switch position and the next switch position to be operated are displayed simultaneously.

The completed symbol “DONE” and the next symbol appear on the display 11.12.
This is an example in which each of the arrows is lit.In addition to lighting the symbol, it is also possible to display the arrow display symbol separately by lighting and blinking.

If multiple switches have expanded over a wide area and it is difficult to list the intersection points of the symbols in rows and columns 9 on the display screen, divide the switch 21 into blocks as shown in FIG. When placed between blocks, it is easy to find out who is using the specified switch.

The display device is not limited to a liquid crystal display panel,
It is clear that other indicators such as electro-optical displays such as CED, ECD, plasma, and EL, and magnetically driven indicators can also be used.

Effects of the Invention The present invention provides an extremely easy-to-use system that instructs the user which switch to operate by arranging a display device that displays two rows and columns of switches arranged in a matrix near the switches.
It is possible to provide a JX-type, thin, and inexpensive operating device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a conventional operating device, FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the conventional operating device, FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the operating device of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the conventional operating device. FIG. 6 is a partial plan view showing an example of display on the operating device;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the information processing device portion of the operating device, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial plan views showing other embodiments of the operating device of the present invention. 2...Keyboard, 21~ Switch, 11°12.
・Display device, 111a to 111n, 121a to 12
1n...Display symbol. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] A keyboard having a plurality of switches arranged in a matrix, and at least one display device arranged around the keyboard or in the keyboard so as to be mixed with the plurality of switches constituting the keyboard, Each switch constituting the keyboard is controlled by an information processing device coupled to the display device, and a symbol indicating the row and column of at least one switch in the keyboard is displayed on the display surface of the display device. 1. An operating device for an information processing device, characterized in that the operating device is configured to perform the following operations.