KR950007119B1 - Keyboard unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The programmable keyboard device for computer console consists of: a central processor(10) controlling the whole operation of the keyboard device; a key pad (11) including an input-output element (11A) and display element(11B) and outputting a key signal according to push of the input-output element (11A); a drive circuit(12) supplying a driving signal to the input-output element (11A); a data memory(13) storing an input program input from the outside; a display controller(14) displaying key in the display element(11B) of the key pad (11) according to keyboard program of the stored input program; and a scan code generator (15) outputting the appropriate scan code signal to confirm the push key with scan code program of the stored input program.

Description

Programmable keyboard devices

1a and b are plan views showing the arrangement of keys on a typical 84-key and 101 / 102-key keyboard.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional keyboard device.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the keyboard device of the present invention.

4 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of a key arrangement state by the keyboard device of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: central processing unit 11: keypad

11A: input / output device 11B: display device

12: drive circuit portion 13: data memory

14: display control unit 14A: display control ROM

14B: Keyboard Control 14C: Display Drive Circuit

15: scan code generation unit 15A: position signal processing unit

15B: Location data buffer 15C: Scan code ROM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a programmable keyboard device used as a console in a computer system. In particular, the present invention relates to a human keyboard having a suitable form, key location, and function according to the nature and function of an application program used in the computer system. Technically, the present invention relates to a programmable keyboard device for formatting and arranging keys.

In general, a keyboard device is one of the most widely used consoles in a computer system. A keyboard having 84 keys as shown in FIG. 1A and a 101/102 key as shown in FIG. 1B are provided. Mainly used.

Each key of the keyboard device is provided with a predetermined procedure and function, and is positioned at a predetermined position with a predetermined size.

Each of the keys is given a predetermined scan code, and controls the operation of the computer system and various programs by using the scan code, and scans each key according to the type of the computer system and the type of the keyboard device. There are cases where the value of the code is different, in which case the compatibility will be incompatible.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional keyboard device. As shown here, the keyboard device comprises a key matrix unit 1 to which a plurality of keys K1, K2, ... are connected, and each key K1, K2, ... of the key matrix unit 1. It is driven by the keyboard driving integrated device 2 which detects pressing of and outputs a corresponding scan code signal.

The computer system for inputting a scan code signal outputted from the keyboard device includes a keyboard ROM 3 for inputting a scan code signal output from the keyboard device, and a scan code signal from the keyboard ROM 3 through the buffer 4. It is composed of a central processing unit (5) that receives the input and controls the operation of the system.

In the conventional keyboard device configured as described above, the keyboard driving integrated device 2 determines the pressed key K1 as the user selectively presses the keys K1, K2, ... of the keyboard device, for example, the key K1. In the case of pressing (), the keyboard driving integrated device (2) determines that the key (K1) is pressed by the signals of the input terminals (X1, Y2), and the pressed key (K1, K2, ...) selects the corresponding scan code signal and outputs it.

The scan code signal output to the keyboard driving integrated device 2 is input to the central processing unit 5 through a cable ROM 3 and a buffer 4 of the computer system via a cable. Control the operation of the computer system and the program used according to the input scan code signal.

Such a conventional keyboard device is characterized in that the characteristics and functions of each key is standardized, so that when the user operates a general program using only the standardized functions of the keys, users can simply learn the operation method of the general program.

However, when operating an application program with a special function other than the standardized functions of the keys, the user has to learn a key that commands a special function.

For example, when operating a program of word processor, there is no key to delete or copy a specific block, so it is programmed to use two or more mixed keys such as “crt_A” and “Alt B”. They had to learn mixed keys to command these functions, and it was very difficult to run the application smoothly.

In addition, each application has a frequently used key and a key that is not used at all, regardless of the conventional keyboard device, a number of keys having a prescribed function are located at a predetermined size and used according to a program. Many keys that do not have a lot of difficulty in operating the keyboard device, as well as frequently used keys have a problem such that the size is small compared to the frequency of use is easily damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned general problems, and includes a central processing unit for controlling the overall operation of a keyboard device, a keypad having input / output elements and a display element, and driving signals to input / output elements of the keypad. A scan code signal for a key signal outputted to an input / output device according to a pressing of a key displayed on a display device of a keypad and a display control unit for controlling a display element of a keypad according to an input keyboard program It is equipped with a scan code generator that outputs according to the input scan code program, and displays the functions of the keys and general keys and special function keys used according to the keyboard program for the program used in the computer system The key size is displayed differently according to the frequency of use of the key. By outputting the scan code signal for the key signal output from the ruler according to the scan code program, when using a program with a special function, it can be used easily without learning the command key for that special function, and the keyboard device can be easily operated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a programmable keyboard device that does not damage a frequently used key, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the programmable keyboard device of the present invention. As shown therein, the programmable keyboard device includes a central processing unit 10 that controls the overall operation of the keyboard device, an input / output element 11A, and a display element 11B, and the key is pressed as the input / output element 11A is pressed. A keypad 11 for outputting a signal, a driver circuit portion 12 for applying a drive signal to the input / output element 11A of the keypad 11, a data memory 13 for storing an input program input from the outside, In the display control unit 14 for displaying keys on the display element 11B of the keypad 11 in accordance with the keyboard program of the input program stored in the data memory 13, and in the input / output element 11A of the keypad 11; And a scan code generator 15 for determining the pressed key for the output key signal as a scan code program of the input program stored in the data memory 13 and outputting a corresponding scan code signal.

Here, the input / output element 11A of the keypad 11 uses a transparent position detection device for detecting a position where the user presses or contacts with a finger, and detects the pressed position due to a change in pressure pressed by a finger. Pressure sensing type or an earth sensing type that detects the position touched by the ground through the human body as the finger touches, etc., and the display element 11B is an LCD and an EL display. By using a general element such as an element, the display state of the display element 11B can be seen through the input / output element 11A.

That is, the keypad 11 of the present invention has a structure in which the input / output element 11A as the position detection element and the LCD or EL element 11B as the display element are integrated as shown in FIG.

The keypad 11 of the present invention replaces the conventional keyboard and provides various keyboard arrangements according to the program to be used.

For example, if the keyboard to be used is the same as the conventional 101/102 keyboard, the keypad 11 of the present invention displays the keys of the keyboard arrangement as shown in FIG.

At this time, the circuit for controlling the display of the keypad 11 is made by the display control unit 14, and information on the key arrangement to be displayed is stored in the data memory 13.

Therefore, when only a few keys are needed as shown in FIG. 4 according to the program to be used, only the corresponding keys are displayed.

Information relating thereto is stored in the data memory 13 together with the input program.

At this time, the program related to the key arrangement stored in the data memory 13 is a program related to a function key, a position and a size suitable for the corresponding application program, and the scan code of the key pressed when an arbitrary key is pressed by the user The location of the signal and the scan code are stored in software.

This program is externally entered with the application, and can vary as required by the application.

In addition, the display element 11B may use an LCD which is a display element that is commonly used, and other display elements such as an EL may be used.

In general, an LCD capable of displaying graphics is used as a single color or color TFT-LCD of a matrix driving method, and is composed of hundreds of thousands of liquid crystal cells.

According to a program storing each liquid crystal cell in the display control ROM 14A, the display driver circuit portion 14C is driven to obtain a screen of the form as shown in FIG. 4 or a key screen of another form as a graphic image.

The display control section 14 includes a display control ROM 14A for storing a keyboard program from the data memory 13 and a display element 11B according to the keyboard program when a keyboard program is stored in the display control ROM 14A. A keyboard controller 14B for controlling the display of a key on the display element 11B when a key is displayed and the keyboard program is not stored, and the display element 11B under the control of the keyboard controller 14B. Display driving circuit section 14C for displaying a key.

The scan code generation unit 15 temporarily stores the position signal processing unit 15A for detecting the push position of the input / output element 11A of the keypad 11 and the push position signal detected by the position signal processing unit 15A. Scan code for storing the position data buffer 15B and the key signal for the position data stored in the position data buffer 15B in the scan code program of the data memory 13 and outputting the corresponding scan code signal. It consisted of ROM (15C).

The computer system connected to the programmable keyboard device and inputting a scan code signal includes a data memory 20 for storing a main program of the input program, a keyboard ROM 21 for inputting a scan code signal output from the programmable keyboard device, It is composed of a central processing unit (5) for receiving a scan code signal from the keyboard ROM 21 through the buffer 22 to control the operation of the system.

The programmable keyboard device of the present invention configured as described above is composed of two separate input programs, that is, application programs. As in the past, an application main program and a keyboard for operating the programmable keyboard device suitable for operating the application program are provided. It consists of a program.

The keyboard program is a keyboard form program that displays the position, size, and function of the keys on the display element 11B of the keypad 11 so as to be suitable for operating an application program. It is composed of the function of the key output from 11A, that is, the position and scan code program for determining the logic and correspondence of the scan code signal of the pressed key, and there is no keyboard program like the existing application program. If you use the program, you can use the existing 84-key and 101 / 102-key keyboard.

In the present invention, when a program to be used from a hard disk and a floppy disk is booted, the main program in the booted program is stored in the data memory of the computer system, and the keyboard program is stored in the data memory 13 of the programmable keyboard device.

In the keyboard program stored in the data memory 13, the position and scan code program reside in the data memory 13, the keyboard form program is processed by the display control ROM 14A of the display control unit 14, and the keyboard controller 14B. The display driver circuit portion 14C is controlled to output a video signal and a scan signal so that the keyboard form is displayed on the display element 11B of the keypad 11, so that the display element 11B is shown in FIG. As shown, the keys will be displayed in a form suitable for the application program used.

When the predetermined key displayed on the display element 11B is pressed through the input / output element 11A of the keypad 11 in such a state, the input / output element 11A outputs the position signal of the pressed position and outputs the output position signal. The position signal processing section 15A of the scan code generation section 15 detects the pressed position coordinates and stores them in the position data buffer 15B.

The scan code ROM 15C then inputs the position coordinates stored in the position data buffer 15B, and logically compares the position coordinates with the positions stored in the data memory 13 and the scan code program to determine the pressed keys. Then, a scan code signal corresponding to the determined key is input from the data memory 13 and output to the computer system.

As described above, the structure for performing the function in which the respective keys and the command keys are described, after finding out which key is the key pressed as described above, obtains a scan code corresponding to the key from a prestored program.

That is, each of the keys is given a predetermined scan code, which is used for control of a computer and a program by using the scan code.

The technique works as with a conventional 101/102 keyboard.

At this time, the data memory 13 having the scan code outputs the scan code for the pressed key to the scan code ROM 15C, and subsequent operations are processed in the central processing unit of the computer as in the case of the previous year, respectively. Keys and command keys will perform the function.

When the pressed position of the input / output element 11A is confirmed and the pressed key is determined, the color and brightness of the pressed key are changed through the display control ROM 14A so that the user can check the data and the data memory 13 In the absence of a keyboard program stored in the keyboard), the keyboard controller 14A of the display control unit 14 displays the 84-key and 101 / 102-key keyboards pre-stored in the display control ROM 14A on the display element 11B. .

Here, the structure of the display element 11B for varying the color and brightness of the pressed key is the same as that of the general LCD display element.

First, in the case of varying the brightness, when the input / output element 11A detects the position pressed by the user, the key corresponding to the position is found out from the information on the position of the display control ROM 14A. The liquid crystal cell constituting the key is driven by the display driver circuit portion 14C to vary the brightness.

In the case of the TFT-CLD, the concentration of the liquid crystal changes in proportion to the voltage applied to the electrode, so that the brightness can be easily adjusted by changing the voltage.

Changing the color can easily realize the effect of color change by applying the above voltage change to the color LCD with red, green, and blue (R, G, B) filters.

As described in detail above, the present invention displays the general key and the special function key used according to the keyboard program for the program used in the computer system together with the functions of the displayed key and the key according to the frequency of use of each key. By displaying the size differently and outputting the scan code signal for the key signal output from the input / output device of the keypad according to the scan code program, it is easy to use it without having to learn the command key of the special function when using the program with special function. In addition, there is an effect of simplifying the operation of the keyboard device and preventing damage to frequently used keys.

Claims (6)

A central processing unit 10 for controlling the overall operation of the keyboard device, a keypad 11 having an input / output element 11A and a display element 11B and outputting a key signal as the input / output element 11A is pressed; A drive circuit unit 12 for applying a drive signal to the input / output element 11A of the keypad 11, a data memory 13 for storing an input program input from the outside, and an input program stored in the data memory 13; A display control unit 14 for displaying a key on the display element 11B of the keypad 11 and a pressed key for a key signal output to the input / output element 11A of the keypad 11 according to the keyboard program And a scan code generator (15) for determining a scan code program of an input program stored in the data memory (13) and outputting a corresponding scan code signal. 2. The programmable keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the input / output element (11A) of the keypad (11) is a transparent position detection element for outputting a position signal according to the user's pressing and the display element (11B) is an LCD. A display control ROM 14A for storing a keyboard program from the display control portion 14 and the data memory 13, and a keyboard program when the keyboard program is stored in the display control ROM 14A. Accordingly, a keyboard controller 14B for controlling a display of a key on the display element 11B and displaying a general standardized key on the display element 11B when the keyboard program is not stored, and a control of the keyboard controller 14B. And a display drive circuit section (14C) for displaying keys on the display element (11B) according to the present invention. 4. The display control section (14) according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the display control section (14) causes the display of the 84-key and 101 / 102-key keyboards previously stored in the display control ROM (14A) when there is no keyboard program in the data memory (13). A programmable keyboard device. The programmable keyboard device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the display control unit (14) is configured to change the display state of the pressed key when the pressed key is confirmed. 2. The scan code generation unit (15) according to claim 1, wherein the scan code generation unit (15) detects the position of the pressing position of the input / output element (11A) of the keypad (11) and the position signal processing unit (15A). The position data buffer 15B for temporarily storing a push position signal and the key signal for the position data stored in the position data buffer 15B are found in the scan code program of the data memory 13, and the corresponding scan code signal. Programmable keyboard device, characterized in that configured as a scan code ROM (15C) for outputting.