RU2113008C1 - Active keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: computer engineering. SUBSTANCE: device has keyboard control unit, which has control command decoder and assembly of electromechanical manipulators, which provide way of software control of force which is required for pressing keys as well as height of keys with respect to keyboard level. EFFECT: facilitated use. 4 cl, 2 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to the field of computing devices, namely, the keyboards of electronic computers (computers).

 The standard IBM personal computer keyboard, model IBM-PC AT-486, is widely known. It consists of a panel with keys and an interface unit that sends codes of pressed keys for further processing. This keyboard is selected as a prototype.

 The prototype has the following disadvantage. When working with application programs when entering commands from the keyboard, the computer operator almost always makes mistakes from time to time by pressing the wrong key (key combination). In this case, correctly written programs usually inform the operator of his incorrect action (often with a short beep) or simply ignore the wrong command. For example, a Microsoft Word for Windows text editor program, version 6.0, from Microsoft when typing when Alt-Y or Alt-F6 is pressed (nonexistent commands) in the first case signals the operator with a sound signal, and in the second simply ignores command without telling the operator anything.

 Both the first and second methods of "reacting" a computer program to a command entered incorrectly from the keyboard are very "inconvenient" for the operator - in the first case, sound signals quickly begin to annoy the user and those around him, in the second case the operator is not warned at all that the entered command is erroneous, which in turn can lead to further inappropriate actions by the operator, malfunctions, etc.

 The objective of the invention is to improve the usability of the keyboard.

 The solution to the problem is achieved by the fact that an active key management device is additionally introduced into the keyboard, which includes sequentially connected control command decryption unit and a set of electromechanical manipulators that allow you to programmatically control the amount of effort required to press the keys, as well as the height of the protruding (recessing) keys relative to the keyboard panel.

 In this case, the application program is able to "control" the correctness of the commands typed by the operator by increasing the effort required to press the keys (key combinations) representing nonexistent commands, until the key is completely blocked, or by mechanically sinking the corresponding keys.

 The essence of the proposed device is illustrated in FIG. 1 and 2, in which are shown in FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an active key management device; in FIG. 2 examples of possible implementations of electromechanical manipulators.

 The active key management device (Fig. 1) contains an electronic decryption unit 1, the input of which is the input of the device, and actuators are electromechanical manipulators 2-n, the inputs of which are connected to the corresponding outputs of the decryption unit.

 The active keyboard works as follows. A program control signal (control command), consisting of a sequence of characters, is input to the decryption unit 1. The decryption unit “parallelizes” the received sequence and generates control signals for the corresponding keyboard keys, which are received at the inputs of the 2-n electromechanical manipulators located near each key. Electromechanical manipulators convert the electrical signals arriving at their inputs into mechanical movements of the keys relative to the keyboard panel and movements of the mechanisms that control the amount of force required to press the keys.

 The step of programmatically setting the amount of effort required to press the keys and the height of the protruding keys above the keyboard panel is practically no different from the well-known methods of programmatically controlling external computer devices, for example, controlling the display screen. With this method, the application program "sends" a sequence of characters to the corresponding memory cells (corresponding port), after which these characters are automatically perceived by external devices as control commands or necessary data.

 Thus, the programmed task of the magnitude of the force required to press the keys consists in programmatically forming an array of quantities, each of which characterizes the magnitude of the given effort for the corresponding key, and sending this array to the corresponding memory cells (corresponding port). Likewise, the programmed task of the amount of protrusion of the keys above the keyboard panel consists in programmatically forming an array of quantities, each of which characterizes the magnitude of this protrusion for the corresponding key, and "sending" this array to the corresponding memory cells (corresponding port).

 In a simpler case (for example, in Notebook computers, when strict dimensional requirements are imposed on the keyboard), binary control of the amount of required keystrokes is possible - software-based blocking of keystrokes. This lock consists in sending a sequence of N bits (N is the number of keys controlled on the keyboard) to the corresponding memory locations (corresponding port). In this case, a bit whose value is equal to a logical unit will block the corresponding key from being pressed. Accordingly, a bit set to logical zero will "allow" pressing the corresponding key, unlocking it. In this case, the mechanical part of the active keyboard is much simpler.

 Examples of possible implementations of electro-mechanical manipulators are shown in figure 2.

 Key A illustrates the electromechanical manipulator of the binary type, i.e., blocking the keystroke. The coil of the solenoid 4 and the polarity of the permanent magnet 5 are oriented so that when a current is supplied from the decryption unit (Fig. 1, pos. 1) to the windings of the solenoid 4, magnet 5 moves towards the key stem 2. In this case, the stopper 3 enters the hole in the rod and blocks the pressing.

 Key B illustrates an electromechanical manipulator that controls the amount of force required to press a key. Here, a change in the electric current supplied from the decryption unit (Fig. 1, pos. 1) to the windings of the solenoid 4 causes a change in the magnitude of the pressing force of the pressing disk 6 to the rod 2 of the key and, therefore, a change in the force required to press the key.

 Key B illustrates an electromechanical manipulator that controls the amount of protrusion (sinking) of the key relative to the keyboard panel. Here, the coil of the solenoid 4 and the permanent magnet 5 are oriented so that a change in the magnitude of the current supplied from the decryption unit (Fig. 1, pos. 1) to the windings of the solenoid 4 causes a vertical movement of the permanent magnet 5 and, accordingly, a change in the size of the key protrusion.

 The constructive implementation of the decryption unit is quite simple and clear from the description of the operation of this unit. This unit contains a serial decryptor connected in itself, "parallelizing" the sequence of values transmitted by the software to a series of control signals, and a set of amplifiers that form the signals supplied to the solenoid windings. In the case of binary control of the keyboard, the amplifiers can be replaced by simpler electronic keys. The decoder itself can be implemented using special decoder chips, as well as on widely known logic chips.

 Specific schemes of the above devices can be taken, for example, from the public literature.

Claims (4)

 1. An active keyboard, consisting of a panel with keys, characterized in that the keyboard also includes a key management device consisting of a decryption module for control commands, the input of which is the input of this device, and a set of electromechanical manipulators whose electrical inputs are connected to the corresponding outputs of the block decryption, and moving mechanical parts - to the corresponding keyboard keys.  2. The keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical part of the electromechanical manipulators is designed so that a change in the control electric signal at the input of the electromechanical manipulator leads to a change in the force required to press the corresponding key on the keyboard.  3. The keyboard according to claim 2, characterized in that the mechanical part of the electromechanical manipulators is configured to lock and unlock the pressing of the corresponding keys, depending on respectively a single and zero levels of the control electric signal at the input of the electromechanical manipulator.  4. The keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical part of the electromechanical manipulators is configured to change the amount of protrusion or recessing of the key relative to the keyboard panel, depending on the magnitude of the control electrical signal at the input of the electromechanical manipulator.

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