Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
  • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
  • B41J3/44—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
  • B41J3/46—Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
  • G06F3/023—Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
  • G06F3/0238—Programmable keyboards
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2207/00—Connections
  • H01H2207/002—Conductive rubber; Zebra
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2219/00—Legends
  • H01H2219/002—Legends replaceable; adaptable
  • H01H2219/01—Liquid crystal
  • H01H2219/012—Liquid crystal programmable
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2219/00—Legends
  • H01H2219/036—Light emitting elements
  • H01H2219/04—Attachments; Connections
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2221/00—Actuators
  • H01H2221/008—Actuators other then push button
  • H01H2221/016—Lever; Rocker
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2221/00—Actuators
  • H01H2221/024—Transmission element
  • H01H2221/026—Guiding or lubricating nylon
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2239/00—Miscellaneous
  • H01H2239/02—Other elements in moving part

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device, in particular for typewriters and terminals with a keypad, each key being assigned at least two, optionally selectable characters and each key being assigned a controllable display element which is located near the associated key or is integrated therein.
• Devices of this type are used to enter a large number of characters, which occur in particular in the form of letters, numbers or mathematical or other special characters, into the associated devices such as typewriters, computers, computers or the like. So far, it has been customary to assign several characters to a key and to label it with several characters at the same time. The number of characters with which a key can be legibly labeled is clearly limited and, furthermore, the specified labeling does not allow simple and quick replacement with other character sets. It is not necessary to mention that, especially in the field of natural sciences with their numerous special characters, a frequent change between the usual alphabet and special characters is very disadvantageous, especially since input errors can easily occur.
• the invention is therefore based on the object of improving the device of the type mentioned in such a way that a simple representation of the desired characters in good quality is made possible. Good clarity and legibility should also be ensured, and furthermore simple and inexpensive adaptation to the respective requirements should also be made possible. Finally, the device is intended to process numerous characters or character sets by a be Simplify limited number of buttons.
• a decentralized control is provided to control the display elements in the form of liquid crystal (LCD), in which each display element is provided with a control element in the form of a driver.
• the driver is provided only once with the information and continues to work independently. Only the respectively preselected character is reproduced by the display element, with perfect legibility and assignment of the respectively preselected character or character set being ensured.
• the display ensures direct assignment of the preselected character to the relevant key. A key can therefore be assigned significantly more characters without the need for additional aids, such as comparison tables between special characters and labeling. Since only one character is shown with the display, good legibility is ensured.
• control electronics are provided, which are designed according to the respective requirements. It can be seen that by changing the data set to another which contains a different character assignment, the input options of the device can also be changed in a simple manner. It is therefore no longer necessary to replace the entire device, if necessary, but only the information to be transmitted electronically.
• buttons, displays and other mechanical-structural design of the devices can be the same, while the adaptation to the respective requirements and input conditions is carried out essentially by the control electronics according to the invention.
• special advantages of the device in connection with a matrix printer are pointed out.
• the display with its segments can also be broken down into a matrix.
• a central electronic control system can then be used to exchange complete character sets as key labels on a terminal or typewriter, which are then also adopted by the printer.
• the driver is designed as an IC component (component containing an integrated circuit).
• the module and the display element advantageously form a structural unit with the interposition of a printed circuit board and electrically conductive connections.
• the structural unit is held on the cap or the base.
• the display is arranged on a base and a cap or the like is arranged so as to be movable with respect to the base. He can do the cap according to the invention can be displaceable with respect to the base by means of suitable guides or can also be arranged pivotably about an axis. By pressing the cap, the electrical contact of the button is closed in the usual way.
• the display can also be arranged directly in the movable cap or the like.
• the display is activated via suitable sliding contacts or other electrical connections that allow the movability of the cap.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows a section through a combined button and with a displaceable cap
• FIG. 2 schematically shows a section through an embodiment with a pivotably arranged cap
• FIG. 3 schematically shows a section through a button according to a further embodiment
• Fig. 4 schematically shows a further embodiment of the
• FIG. 6 is a block diagram of control electronics.
• FIG. 1 shows a key 1 with a base 2 and a switch 4.
• a cap 6 is arranged such that it can be displaced with respect to the base 2 in the direction of arrow 8. Side surfaces 10 of the base in connection with associated inner surfaces 12 of the cap 6 are used for guidance.
• a display element 14 is arranged on the base 2, which is designed here as a display element.
• Each display element 14 can contain combinable segments by means of which the preselected character can be represented. The individual segments can expediently be activated individually by the user. It can be seen that as a result, any characters can be displayed without any special effort and without difficulty. A user can also insert numerous of their own characters as additional labeling. The size, shape, arrangement, etc.
• Pins 16 are used for the electrical control of the display element 14 in the usual manner made of a transparent plastic, so that the character displayed by means of the display element 14 can easily be seen by a user from above.
• the cap 6 is pot-shaped and thus also protects the enclosed display element 14. Since the central pin, which is otherwise customary in the case of key switches, is omitted in this embodiment, the display element 14 can be easily installed here. Furthermore, the guidance of the cap over the inner surfaces 12 results in a secure and unstable guidance. Finally, this design ensures a comparatively simple assembly, since the three essential components, namely base 2, display element 14 and cap 6 only have to be plugged one above the other.
• Figure 2 shows an embodiment in which the cap 6 is arranged pivotable about a joint 18 with respect to the base 2.
• the switch 4 is located on the side of the base 2 and can be actuated via the side edge 20 of the cap 6. It is understood that the cap 6 is also made of a transparent material in this embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is particularly expedient when an LCD display element 14 is used, with a correspondingly large number of feed lines being necessary in the case of the numerous display segments required.
• a control IC i.e. a module 22, which contains an integrated circuit
• this module 22 is arranged on a printed circuit board 24, with conductive rubber parts 26 to the side of the display element 14.
• these components are located in the cap 6, ala holder V ⁇ raprünge 28 are provided on which the circuit board 24 with the block 22 is seated.
• the guide rubber parts 26, which bear against the display element 14, are in turn arranged laterally. This component can then be placed on a commercially available base 2.
• FIG. 5 shows the immediate arrangement of the component 22 on the glass plate of the LCD display element 14, these two components parts are supported on a bracket 28.
• This design of the cap can also be placed on a conventional base 2.
• conductive rubber elements 26 other elements made of electrically conductive material can also be used.
• control electronics can be provided, as shown in FIG. 6 in the form of a block diagram. Since each display consists of a larger number of individual segments, a large total number of display segments must be checked. For example, if you take an 8 x 12 dot matrix and 70 displays for one display, this results in 6720 display segments, i.e. a large number of segments. For this reason, a decentralized control system is proposed, in which each display is given its own control system. This control is carried out by an integrated circuit which only has to receive the information about the symbol to be displayed once and then independently represents it. This information about the entire characters can be contained in a central electronic component (ROM) or read in from the outside. This decentralized concept leads to a combination of control IC, display and key switch.
• ROM central electronic component
• the assembly of the LCD display element 14 and driver (control IC 22) are built into the key cap.
• the control IC 22 receives its information via the input and output (I / O) and then controls the LCD display element 14.
• I / O input and output
• the advantage here is the small number of lines to the driver, while there are 28 connections between the driver and the LCD, for the driver there are 3 data and 2 voltage supply lines.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
• Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
• Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=6759378

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications After (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (23)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 1983
  • 1983-11-30 DE DE19838334346U patent/DE8334346U1/de not_active Expired
• 1984
  • 1984-02-01 GB GB08402692A patent/GB2150722B/en not_active Expired
  • 1984-04-14 DE DE3414226A patent/DE3414226C2/de not_active Expired
  • 1984-09-28 IN IN695/CAL/84A patent/IN162746B/en unknown
  • 1984-10-24 BR BR8405391A patent/BR8405391A/pt unknown
  • 1984-11-09 FR FR848417138A patent/FR2555511B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1984-11-26 KR KR1019840007396A patent/KR850003874A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 1984-11-29 JP JP59250694A patent/JPS60134316A/ja active Granted
  • 1984-11-30 EP EP85900092A patent/EP0163708A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1984-11-30 WO PCT/EP1984/000379 patent/WO1985002460A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1984-11-30 EP EP84114588A patent/EP0149086A3/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1984-11-30 AU AU37820/85A patent/AU3782085A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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