JP2000099216A - Multimode key input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate even an unskilled user or a physically handicapped to carry out the keyboard input of keyboard equipment by selecting any one of a key input signal by a keyboard input, an input signal by a voice input and an input signal by a single key input and connecting the signal to a key input connector of the keyboard. SOLUTION: Three kinds of input signals of a key input signal by a keyboard input of equipment with a keyboard 3 as an input means, an input signal by a voice input from a microphone 4 and an input signal by the input of a single key 5 are connected to a selective output part 13. Further, these signals are connected to a key input connector of input equipment such as a personal computer. Then, a setting switch 6 is connected through an input interface part 14 to a control part 11 and three kinds of inputs are selected by the setting switch 6. Further, an LCD monitor 7 or a speaker 8 is connected through an output interface part 15 to a control part 11 and the input or the selection is confirmed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-mode device, such as a personal computer, using a keyboard as an input means, which can perform input equivalent to keyboard input by voice input or single key input in addition to keyboard input. The present invention relates to a key input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, keyboards have been widely used as means for inputting alphabets, numerals, control codes, and the like in personal computers and other computer devices. The keyboard includes a ten-key keyboard capable of inputting only numbers and some symbols, and a full keyboard capable of inputting all of alphabets, numbers, symbols, control codes and function codes.
In this full keyboard, the arrangement of alphabets, numbers, symbols and control keys is almost the same as the arrangement of typewriters that have been used for a long time. At the time when the typewriter was invented, the arrangement was designed to be difficult to strike in consideration of the fact that the typewriter's head was not overlapped by hitting the type at high speed.

[0003]

However, the arrangement of the alphabets, numbers, symbols and control keys in the above-mentioned full keyboard is difficult to be used by beginners, and is often avoided by housewives and elderly people. For this reason, there have been problems that the personal computer has become a hindrance to widespread use at home and that it has not been used even if purchased.

[0004] In addition, if the user is a handicapped person, there are few problems if the user can press all keys at the latest, but if the user can not see the keyboard due to low vision or visual impairment, it is similar. Even with the projection indicating the home key, keyboard input and operation were difficult. In addition, for those who cannot move their arms freely, there is an operation of pressing a plurality of keys at the same time, and it is similarly difficult to input and operate a keyboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is intended for use by a person who is not accustomed to keyboard input, such as a housewife or the elderly, or a person with a disability, such as a personal computer or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-mode key input device capable of easily performing keyboard input.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a multi-mode key input device 1 according to the present invention comprises:
In addition to keyboard input, input by voice input, single key input, or the like is enabled.

In the method using voice input, a person's voice is
A voice input unit 9 for inputting a voice signal via the input unit, a signal conversion unit 10 for converting a voice signal obtained from the voice input unit 9 into a digital signal, a memory unit 12 in which a reference voice pattern is registered in advance, A control unit 11 for comparing and calculating the voice pattern and the input voice obtained from the signal conversion unit 10;
The controller 11 obtains an input corresponding to the input voice.

The method using a single key includes an input interface section 14 for generating the length of a pulse train by pressing a single key 5, a memory section 12 for registering a predetermined pulse train pattern, The control unit 11 is configured to compare and calculate the input pulse train obtained from the input interface unit 14. The control unit 11 obtains an input corresponding to the input pulse train.

Further, a key input signal by keyboard input, an input signal by voice input, and an input signal by single key input are selected and connected to a key input connector of a device such as a personal computer having a keyboard as input means. It has a selection output unit 13.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a multi-mode key input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, in addition to keyboard input, three types of input can be made by voice input and single key input. The selection of the three types of inputs is performed by the setting switch 6 provided in the multi-mode key input device 1. Confirmation of input and selection is performed by an LCD monitor 7 and a speaker 8 built in the multi-mode key input device 1.

The method by voice input is performed through a microphone 4 installed in the multi-mode key input device 1. The block includes a voice input unit 9 for inputting a human voice via the microphone 4, a signal conversion unit 10 for converting a voice signal obtained from the voice input unit 9 into a digital signal, and a reference voice pattern registered in advance. And a control unit 11 for comparing and calculating the reference voice pattern and the input voice obtained from the signal conversion unit 10. The control unit 11 obtains an input corresponding to the input voice. The control unit 11 needs to compare and calculate the input voice with the reference voice pattern at high speed, and a CPU or DSP capable of high-speed operation is suitable. Note that any comparison method may be used.

The single key method is performed through a single key 5 connected to the multi-mode key input device 1.
The block includes an input interface unit 14 for generating a pulse train length by pressing a single key 5, and a memory unit 12 for registering a predetermined pulse train pattern.
And the pulse train pattern and the input interface unit 14
The control unit 11 is configured to compare and calculate the obtained input pulse train, and the control unit 11 obtains an input corresponding to the input pulse train. The control unit 11 does not require high-speed operation and
PU is suitable, but CPU or DSP for the voice input
May be used in common. Further, the memory unit 12 may be commonly used.

A key input signal by a keyboard input, an input signal by a voice input, and three types of input signals by a single key input are connected to a selection output unit 13, and furthermore, a device such as a personal computer or the like having a keyboard as an input means. Connected to key input connector.

Selection of the above three types of inputs is performed by a setting switch 6 provided in the multi-mode key input device 1.
The setting switch 6 is connected to the control unit 11 via the input interface unit 14 and processed. The input and selection confirmation is performed by using the built-in L in the multi-mode key input device 1.
This is performed by the CD monitor 7 and the speaker 8. The LCD monitor 7 and the speaker 8 are connected to the control unit 11 via the output interface unit 15.

[0016]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection system of the multi-mode key input device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a multi-mode key input device 1 of the present invention is inserted between a connection cable of a conventional personal computer 2 and a keyboard 3. An output cable of the keyboard 3 is connected to a keyboard input connector (not shown) of the multi-mode key input device 1. Also, a microphone 4 for voice input is provided on the upper part of the front of the main body of the multi-mode key input device 1.
Is installed. Further, a single key 5 for a person who cannot input voice and who cannot move his / her arm freely can input an input is connected to a single key input connector (not shown) of the multi-mode key input device 1. Then, an output cable from the multi-mode key input device 1 is connected to a keyboard input connector (not shown) of the personal computer 2. The single key 5
If you do not need to use, you do not need to connect.

The conventional keyboard input can be performed by selecting the keyboard input mode with the setting switch 6 on the front panel of the multi-mode key input device 1.

When performing voice input, the voice input mode can be similarly selected by the setting switch 6 on the front panel of the multi-mode key input device 1. In this mode, an input code is determined by comparing a pre-registered 50 voices with unique sound quality, a reference voice pattern such as an alphabet, and voice input from the microphone 4. When the mode is used for the first time, the memory unit 12 built in the multi-mode key input device 1 is used.
It is necessary to register the reference voice pattern of the user, and this can be performed by setting the setting switch 6 to the voice registration mode. The instruction of the registered word and the confirmation of the registered voice can be performed by the LCD monitor 7 and the speaker 8 built in the multi-mode key input device 1. There are no restrictions on the voice or pronunciation of the registered word, and even those who have difficulty speaking or who have an accent can register, for example, by saying "A" as "GA" and registering,
It is also possible to make the person recognize "A".

When a single key input is performed, the single key input mode can be similarly selected by the setting switch 6 on the front panel of the multi-mode key input device 1. In this mode, since the input code is determined by a predetermined combination of the length of the input pulse, the input can be performed by pressing the single key 5 as if a Morse code was hit.

Furthermore, by selecting the composite input mode with the setting switch 6 on the front panel of the multi-mode key input device 1, the keyboard input, voice input or single key input can be appropriately used for input. It is.

[0022]

As described above, the following effects can be obtained by using the multi-mode key input device of the present invention as a key input device of a device such as a personal computer having a keyboard as an input device. Beginners of keyboard input on personal computers, especially housewives and elderly people, can input in the same way as keyboard input by voice, in addition to keyboard input. It can be. For people who cannot input keys correctly due to low vision or visual impairment, the same input as keyboard input can be performed by voice input or single key input. It can be a factor that spreads to people with disabilities. For people who cannot move their arms freely, the same input as keyboard input can be performed by voice input or single key input. . In voice input, any voice or pronunciation can be registered as a reference voice pattern, which can be a factor that is widely spread to people who have difficulty speaking or who have an accent.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a multi-mode key input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection system of the multi-mode key input device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multi-mode key input device 2 Personal computer 3 Keyboard 4 Microphone 5 Single key 6 Setting switch 7 LCD monitor 8 Speaker 9 Voice input unit 10 Signal conversion unit 11 Control unit 12 Memory unit 13 Selection output unit 14 Input interface unit 15 Output interface unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] An apparatus using a keyboard as an input means, such as a personal computer, includes a plurality of input means such as a voice input means and a single key input means in addition to a keyboard input. A multi-output device for selecting an input signal from the input means, an input signal from the single key input means, and the like, and connecting to a key input connector of the device; Mode key input device. 2. A voice input unit (9) for inputting a human voice via a microphone (4) as a voice input means, and a voice signal obtained from the voice input unit (9) is converted into a digital signal. A signal conversion unit (10), a memory unit (12) for pre-registering a reference voice pattern, and a control unit (11) for comparing and calculating the reference voice pattern and the input voice obtained from the signal conversion unit (10) The multi-mode key input device according to claim 1, wherein the controller (11) obtains an input corresponding to an input voice. 3. An input interface unit (14) for generating the length of a pulse train by pressing a single key (5) as a single key input means, and a memory unit for registering a predetermined pulse train pattern (3). 12) and a control unit (11) for comparing and calculating the pulse train pattern and the input pulse train obtained from the input interface unit (14), and the control unit (11) obtains an input corresponding to the input pulse train. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Multi-mode key input device.