JP2000056909A - Keyboard for personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the keyboard to be used by initializing its key input mode at power-on time into a desired state by sending out a signal indicating specific key input to a PC(personal computer) when the specific key input is not detected and a specific display command is received from the PC. SOLUTION: When the specific key input is not detected, it is decided whether or not an indicator display command from the PC is effective (S41). When so, it is decided whether or not it is the turn-on command of a NumLock indicator (S43) and when so, it is decided whether or not a NumLock depression flag is already set (S46) while an LED is turned on (S45). Thus, a NumLock key code is stored in a key data sending buffer (S47) so that NumLock key depression data are sent out to the PC when the NumLock indicator turn-on command is received while the NumLock key is not pressed yet after the power source is turned on.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard,
The present invention relates to a keyboard used for a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a keyboard (KB) used for a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) or the like.
Is a combination key such as an ANK (alphabet, numeral, kana) key, function (Fn) key, and a "SHIFT" key or a "CTRL" key (the key itself does not affect key input but affects other keys) Keys) are arranged according to the application. In the field of standard PCs, there are 101 keyboards (hereinafter, referred to as 101 KB), 106 keyboards (hereinafter, referred to as 106 KB), and the like.
A keyboard called a so-called full keyboard is used.

FIG. 1 shows a key arrangement of 106 KB, 2 is an ANK part, 4 is a SHIFT key, and 5 is a CTRL key.
The key 6 is a function key. Generally, in a full keyboard, in addition to the above key group, a ten-key pad portion 8 is formed in an independent form. FIG.
6 shows an arrangement of a numeric keypad portion in 6 KB.
As shown in the drawing, the keys of the numeric keypad are provided with two types of inscriptions for one key. One is a numeral, and the other is an engraved mark such as an arrow below the numeral (hereinafter referred to as a cursor). These two types of markings indicate that each key has two types of functions. That is, pressing a predetermined key such as the Num Lock key 9 /
In response to a key input by an opening operation (hereinafter simply referred to as key depression), an input mode is alternately set and released, and the function of a related key is switched.
Specifically, Num displays the status of the fixed number input mode.
When the key is pressed while the Lock indicator is on (on), the key functions as a numeric key, and when the Num Lock indicator is pressed off (off), it functions as a cursor key. Switching of the ON / OFF state of the Num Lock indicator is performed by receiving an indicator ON / OFF command from a higher-level device (PC) using a depression of the Num Lock key as a trigger.

FIG. 3 shows switching of input mode and Num Lo.
The operation for turning on / off the ck indicator is shown. First, the state where the fixed number input mode is set,
That is, when the Num Lock key is pressed in a state where the PC fixed number input mode is ON (ON) and the Num Lock indicator of the keyboard is lit (), the keyboard sends the Num Lock key pressed data to the PC. (). When the PC receives this push-down data, the PC receives Num Lo
A command to turn off the ck indicator is sent to the keyboard (). Upon receiving this command, the keyboard receives an ACK (Acknowledg) indicating that the command has been normally received (processed).
e) Return (), and turn off the indicator according to the command. On the other hand, P
C recognizes a signal transmitted from the keyboard as a state in which the fixed number input mode is released (off state).

In this state, if the Num Lock key is further depressed (), the keyboard similarly sends depressed data to the PC (), and the PC issues a command opposite to the previous indicator display command, that is, the indicator. Send a lighting command to the keyboard (). The keyboard returns an ACK signal indicating that the command has been normally received (processed) (), and turns on the indicator.

As described above, when the Num Lock key is pressed, the PC alternately repeats the setting state and the releasing state, and the indicator of the keyboard alternately turns on and off. Further, in inputting a related key whose function is switched according to the input mode, a signal transmitted from the keyboard to the PC does not change depending on the input mode, and the key recognition is switched on the PC side.

In the above description, the Num Lock mode has been described, but the same applies to other input mode switching, for example, scroll mode switching. 10 mentioned above
In recent years, so-called space-saving keyboards, which have a reduced number of keys that take advantage of space saving and the like as compared to full keyboards such as 6 KB, have been increasing. Many of these space-saving keyboards assign the function of the deleted key to another key in order to maintain compatibility with the full keyboard, and simultaneously depress the same key as the "SHIFT" key or "Fn" key. It is designed so that the function of the key can be used properly by switching (both pressing down) and the operation mode.

FIG. 4 shows a space saving keyboard 1.
1 shows an example of the array of 1. For this keyboard, 106
In the numeric keypad section of the KB, the ANK section 1
Key 3 is assigned to reduce the number of keys. For example,
"J (1)", "K (2)", "L (3)", etc.
By switching the Num Lock indicator ON / OFF command, the function of alphabets and numerals is switched. Therefore, the number of types of keys is the same as 106 KB, and compatibility is maintained.

As described above, the numeric keypad section of the 106 KB has two kinds of functions of a numeric key and a cursor key, and the input mode is switched by a predetermined switch key input by the user as a trigger. The input mode setting state and the display state of the keyboard in (1) are made to coincide with each other. However, this space saving keyboard is used for switching between the numeric keypad section and the ANK section. That is, it functions as a numeric keypad when the Num Lock indicator is on, and as an ANK section when it is off.
Initialization of whether the Num Lock mode is set or released when the PC is powered on (initialization)
Although it differs depending on the type of PC, etc., there are many PCs in which the Num Lock mode is set with priority on the numeric key function.

On the other hand, in the case of the space saving keyboard, if the Num Lock mode is set (the indicator is lit) when the PC is turned on, the keys assigned with the numeric functions function as numeric keys. Poor operability. That is, since the numeric function is assigned to the key of the ANK section, the keys indicating the alphabet and the number are mixed in the ANK section at the time of starting the operation after the power is turned on. To avoid this, Num
It is necessary to input the Lock key to release the Num Lock mode (turn off the indicator). In the case of the keyboard shown in FIG. 4, the Num Lock key is a function key (Fn
Key) and the pressing process is necessary, which is troublesome.

In general, the setting at power-on of the Num Lock mode is generally performed by a basic input / output system (BIOS) on the PC side.
tem: basic software for controlling the transfer of data between the OS and the software). However,
If the BIOS setting is incorrectly operated, it affects the operation of the PC itself, and in the worst case, the PC becomes inoperable. For example, it is very difficult for a user unfamiliar with the PC.

Therefore, the setting or canceling of the key input mode at the time of turning on the power is determined by the initialization on the PC side, and cannot be determined and selected on the keyboard side.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing, and an object of the present invention is to determine whether a key input mode at power-on is set or released. Personal computer (PC)
It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard which can be used by initializing a key input mode at power-on to a desired state regardless of the initialization.

[0014]

A keyboard used in a personal computer (PC) that transmits a display command of an input mode to a keyboard and alternately sets and releases an input mode related to a key in response to a predetermined key input. Detecting means for detecting a predetermined key input, and detecting means for detecting the predetermined key input, and
Means for transmitting a signal indicating a predetermined key input to the PC when a predetermined display command is received from the PC.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the keyboard 11 includes a key matrix 21 for input operation, a control device 23 for controlling the keyboard, a memory 24, a key scan processing device 26 for performing key matrix scan, a key signal transmission to the PC 27, and a PC 27. And a buffer 29 for temporarily storing data to be transmitted and received.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation sequence of the keyboard 11 and the PC 27 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the BIOS setting at power-on is Num Lo
A case where the PC is in the ck mode setting (on state) will be described as an example. First, after the power is turned on, the PC 27 and the keyboard perform initial processing to recognize each other. Next, PC2
7 issues a Num Lock indicator lighting command to the keyboard based on the BIOS setting. On the other hand, the keyboard 11 sends an ACK signal to the PC, and simultaneously turns on the indicator 17. In the present embodiment, thereafter, a Num Lock key press signal is issued to the PC, and P
Set Num Lock of C to the set state, and
Is turned off and Num Lock is released. Control unit 23
Executes the above processing only to release the Num Lock mode at power-on. Figure 7 shows the Num Lock key pressed,
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a Num Lock mode and a push-down flag. Unless the Num Lock key is depressed after power on
The Num push-down flag is in the clear state.
The ck key is maintained even if released.

Hereinafter, referring to the flowcharts of FIGS. 8-10, Nu at the time of power-on executed by the control unit 23 will be described.
The control routine for releasing the m Lock mode will be described in detail. Although the above description has been given as a hardware configuration, in actuality, it is easy to realize as a microcomputer integrated into one chip or as software of the microcomputer.

In FIG. 8, after the power is turned on, initial processing is performed to recognize that the keyboard and the PC are normally connected to each other (step S).
1). Generally, the initial processing includes a reset command for the keyboard, a read ID command for confirming the ID of the keyboard, and the like. When the various initial processes are completed normally, the control unit 23 determines whether the Num Lock indicator display command transmitted from the PC is a lighting command (step S2). If it is not a lighting command, the Num Lock mode release routine is terminated and the control returns to normal control. On the other hand, if the received command is a lighting command, the control unit 23 determines whether a flag indicating that the Num Lock key has been pressed is set (step S3). If the flag has already been set, this control routine ends. On the other hand, if the flag has not been set, the control unit 23 calls a press-down detection (key scan) routine, and detects whether the Num Lock key has been pressed (step S4). The flow of the depression detection (key scan) routine will be described later in detail.

As a result of the processing of the depression detection (key scan) routine, the mode indicator processing routine is called (step S5), and the processing of the mode display command from the PC is executed. The flow of this mode indicator processing routine will be described later in detail. After the mode indicator processing routine is completed, the control unit 23 outputs the ACK signal to the PC.
(Step S6).

Next, the control unit 23 executes a process for releasing the Num Lock mode. That is, first, a command to transmit the same signal as when the Num Lock key is pressed (Num Lock key pressing signal) to the PC is issued (step S7).
The control unit 23 receives a Num Lock indicator extinguish command transmitted by the PC in response to the transmitted signal (step S8). When receiving the indicator extinguishing command, the control unit 23 calls a mode indicator processing routine (step S9), and extinguishes the indicator. After the mode indicator processing routine is completed, the control unit 2
3 returns an ACK signal to the PC (step S10), and terminates this control routine.

Hereinafter, the flow of the press-down detection (key scan) routine will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, each key is driven while scanning (step S21), and the state of each key is read (step S22). After the reading, the status is updated (step S23). Note that this key matrix scan may be performed for all keys at once, or for some keys, and after performing the following steps S24 to S29, the same steps are repeatedly performed for the remaining keys.
A procedure for scanning all keys may be used.

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a valid key among the keys read in the above steps (step S2).
4). If there is no valid key, the process proceeds to step S29. If there is a valid key, it is determined whether or not it is a Num Lock key (step S25). If the valid key is the Num Lock key, it is determined whether or not the press-down flag has already been set (step S26).
A Lock depression flag is set (step S27). Next, the key code is stored for transmission to the PC (step S28).

On the other hand, if the key is not the Num Lock key in step S25, or if the Num Lock key flag is not set in step S26, the flow advances to step S28 to store the key code. Next, the drive register is updated (step S29), and it is determined whether or not scanning has been completed for all keys (step S3).
0). If the scan has not been completed, step S21
Then, the scan is executed for the remaining keys, and if the scan has been completed, the depression detection (key scan) routine is terminated.

Next, the flow of the mode indicator processing routine will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not the indicator display command from the PC is valid (step S41). If it is not valid, the control is passed to the error processing routine as an error (step S42). If it is valid, it is determined whether it is a lighting command of the Num Lock indicator (step S43).
Display LED (Issue diode) if not lighting command
Is turned off (step S44). In the case of the lighting command, the LED is turned on (step S45), and the Num Lo
It is determined whether or not the ck depression flag is set (step S46). If the flag is not set, that is, if the Num Lock key is not yet pressed down after power-on, and the Num Lock indicator lighting command is received, the Num Lock key pressing data is sent to the PC to send Num Lock key data.
The m Lock key code is stored in the key data transmission buffer (step S47). With the above steps, the processing of the mode indicator routine ends.

In the above description, a case has been described as an example of a PC in which the initialization (BIOS setting) at power-on is in the Num Lock mode setting (on state). However, the initialization is in the Num Lock mode release (off state). PC
In the case of, as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In the Lock mode release routine, the Num Lock key press data is not transmitted, and the keyboard can be operated in the release mode.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the initial input mode of the key is released regardless of the initialization of the PC has been described as an example. However, the "setting" and "release" are appropriately described above. By reading "lighting" and "lighting out", it is also possible to easily realize a keyboard in which the initial input mode is set. As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the key input mode at power-on regardless of the initialization of the PC as to whether the key input mode at power-on is set or released. Can be realized by initializing to a desired state.

FIG. 11 shows an operation sequence of the keyboard 11 and the PC 27 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that, in the present embodiment, the Num Lock mode is released after turning on a key (hereinafter referred to as a related key) whose input mode is switched by Num Lock. This is the point when it is depressed for the first time. In the following, the BIOS setting at power-on is Nu
An example in which the PC is in the m Lock mode setting (on state) will be described.

First, after the power is turned on, the PC 27 and the keyboard perform initial processing to recognize each other. Next, PC2
7 issues a Num Lock indicator lighting command to the keyboard based on the BIOS setting. On the other hand, the keyboard 11 sends an ACK signal to the PC,
In this embodiment, the indicator 17 is turned off. That is, the Num Lock mode inside the PC 27 is in the set state (ON state), whereas the keyboard side (indicator 17) is in the apparently released state.

Next, one of the Num Lock related keys described above is used.
It is considered that the Num Lock key is depressed (detected) at the time when one is depressed, a Num Lock key depress flag is set, and the Num Lock key depressed data is transmitted to the PC. The PC 27 issues an indicator extinguish command in response to this signal. The Num Lock mode inside the PC 27 is released (off state) by the ACK signal returned from the keyboard, and the display of the keyboard 11 and the PC
The deviation from the internal state of 27 is eliminated. Next, the keyboard 11 transmits the actual key code (key data in a state where the Num Lock mode is released) of the related key that has been depressed. The Num Lock key down flag has already been set, so the keyboard can now be used in the normal way.

Also in the case of this embodiment, even in the case of a PC whose initialization has been released from the Num Lock mode (off state) as in the first embodiment, it is easy to operate the keyboard in the release mode. It is possible to do it. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the initial input mode of the key is released regardless of the initialization of the PC has been described as an example. However, as in the first embodiment, the initial input mode can be easily set. It is also possible to realize a keyboard that sets a state. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the Num Lock is set and released when the power is turned on with the space saving keyboard has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to, for example, a full keyboard.
Further, the present invention is not limited to the Num Lock key, and can be applied to other input mode settings.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, regardless of whether the personal computer (PC) is initialized or not, whether the key input mode at power-on is set or released. Provided is a keyboard that can be used by initializing a key input mode at the time of input to a desired state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a key arrangement of 106 KB.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a 106-KB numeric keypad unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of switching input modes and turning on / off a Num Lock indicator.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of a space saving keyboard 11;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of an operation of the keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a Num Lock key press, a Num Lock mode, and a press flag.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation of Num Lo executed by the control unit 23 according to the present invention.
It is a flowchart of a ck mode release routine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a depression detection (key scan) routine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a mode indicator processing routine.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of operation of the keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of Signs of Main Parts]

 Reference Signs List 11 keyboard 21 key matrix 23 control device 24 memory 26 key scan processing device 27 PC 28 communication device 29 buffer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard used in a personal computer (PC) that transmits a display command of an input mode to a keyboard and alternately sets and releases an input mode related to a key in response to a predetermined key input. Detecting means for detecting the predetermined key input; and detecting the signal indicating the predetermined key input when the predetermined key input is not detected by the detection means and a predetermined display command is received from the PC. Means for sending to a PC. 2. A keyboard used in a personal computer (PC) that transmits a display command of an input mode to a keyboard and alternately sets and releases an input mode related to a key according to a predetermined key input. A first detection unit that detects the predetermined key input; a second detection unit that detects one input of a related key related to the input mode; an indicator that displays setting or cancellation of the input mode; A means for causing a display opposite to the predetermined display command to be performed only when the predetermined key input is not detected by the first detection means and a predetermined display command is received from the PC for the first time; The predetermined key input is not detected by the detecting means, and one input of the related key is detected for the first time by the second detecting means. Only when a keyboard and having a means for delivering to the PC a signal representative of said predetermined key input prior to one input representative signal of the associated key. 3. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined key input is a simultaneous input of a plurality of keys. 4. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined display command is a command indicating cancellation of the input mode. 5. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the input mode is a fixed number mode.