JP2000214990A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small keyboard device for AT compatible desk top PC, whose operability is satisfactory. SOLUTION: Ten key functions are allocated to plural alphanumeric keys in a keyboard and the alphanumeric keys are used for the keys corresponding to ten keys. A ten key block which is usually installed is omitted. A processing means selecting an Fn lock mode at which the keys corresponding to the ten keys function as the ten keys by an Fn lock key 2 or a normal mode at which all the keys function as the keys of characters filled on the top faces of the keys, and a processing means setting a keyboard device to the normal mode despite of the setting of the Num lock mode of a computer at the power-on or at the rebooting are installed in a control part. At the power-on or at the rebooting, a system is set to the normal mode and the characters on the top faces of all the keys function. When the Fn lock key 2 is depressed, numbers in front of the keys corresponding to the ten keys function and ten key input is executed. Whenever the Fn lock key 2 is depressed, the Fn lock mode and the normal mode are alternately selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device, and more particularly to a keyboard device for an AT compatible desktop personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional keyboard device of a desktop PC (desktop personal computer) is provided with a numeric keypad on the right side of a group of keys such as alphanumeric keys and function keys. Therefore, there is a problem that the width is wider than the keyboard device having no numeric keypad and the occupied area on the desk is large.

On the other hand, in a notebook PC, it is not possible to provide an independent numeric keypad in a keyboard device due to size considerations. Therefore, a numeric keypad function is assigned to a part of alphanumeric keys to correspond to the numeric keypad. In the mode, the characters on the top function,
In the Num Lock mode, the numeric keys corresponding to the numeric keys on the front of the key function. In other words, when entering numeric keys, press the Num Lock key to switch from normal mode to Num Lock.
When the mode is switched, a numeric code corresponding to the numeric keypad is output from the numeric key corresponding to the numeric keypad.

[0004] Therefore, in a keyboard device for a desktop PC, if a numeric key function is assigned to an alphanumeric key similarly to a notebook PC, the numeric key block can be eliminated to reduce the size. When the numeric key function is assigned to the numeric key, the following disadvantages occur.

[0005] That is, in an AT compatible notebook PC, the default is set in the BIOS so that both the PC and the keyboard are in a normal mode at the time of power-on and at the time of reboot. The character code printed on the top of the numeric key is output. Each time the Num Lock key is pressed, the keyboard mode is alternately switched to the Num Lock mode or the normal mode, and in the Num Lock mode, a numeric code corresponding to the numeric keypad written on the front of the alphanumeric key is output.

On the other hand, in an AT compatible desktop PC which is premised on using a keyboard device provided with an independent numeric keypad separately from alphanumeric keys and the like, the keyboard is turned on at the time of power-on and reboot.
The default setting is Num Lock mode. Therefore, when the numeric keys are assigned to the alphanumeric keys in the same manner as the keyboard device of the notebook PC, when the desktop PC is started and the key input operation is performed, the keys of the alphanumeric keys to which the numeric keys are assigned are keyed. Since the numeric code on the front surface is output instead of the character code on the surface, it is necessary to return to the normal mode in order to make the character on the top surface of the key function normally. In other words, every time the PC is started or rebooted, the setting must be changed to the normal mode by pressing the Num Lock key, which makes the operation cumbersome and causes a problem in operability.

Therefore, there arises a technical problem to be solved in order to realize a downsized keyboard device for a desktop personal computer without lowering the operability, and the present invention solves the above problem. The purpose is to:

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is proposed to achieve the above object. In a keyboard device for an AT-compatible desktop personal computer, a plurality of alphanumeric keys in a keyboard are provided with a numeric keypad function. Assign it as a numeric keypad key,
Each time a numeric keypad function key is pressed, the process of alternately switching the function between the numeric keypad input mode, in which the key corresponding to the numeric keypad functions as a numeric keypad, and the normal mode, in which all keys function as keys for characters written on the top of the key Means and a keyboard device provided with processing means for setting the keyboard device to the normal mode at power-on and at reboot regardless of the Num Lock mode setting of the computer to which the keyboard device is connected.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, keys (J, K, and K) in the range above and below the home position of the right hand of the alphanumeric key block of the keyboard device 1.
L, ‥) are assigned a ten-key function. As shown in FIG. 1, Scroll Loc is located at the left end of the keyboard device 1.
A key 2 for switching the function of a ten-key corresponding key is provided alongside the k key and the like.
To distinguish it from the m Lock key, it will be referred to as the Fn Lock key here. An Fn Lock LED 3 for display is provided near the Fn Lock key 2 so that the Fn Lock mode can be recognized. 4 is Caps lock LED, 5 is Scro
ll Lock LED.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit configuration of the keyboard device 1, in which a one-chip microcomputer 6, an 18 × 8 key switch matrix circuit 7, three display LEDs 3,
4 and 5, and a clock line 9 and a data line 10 which are communication lines with the PC 8.

The key switch matrix circuit has a matrix configuration of 18 key scan output lines (KS0 to KS17) and 8 key data input lines (KD0 to KD7), and a ten-key corresponding key surrounded by a chain line is set by an Fn Lock key. Function as a numeric keypad in Fn Lock mode.

In the keyboard device 1, the character on the top of the key functions in the normal mode, and the keyboard device 1 is in the Fn Lock mode (numerical key input mode in which the numbers on the front of the key function) corresponding to the conventional Num Lock mode. Numeric keys and the like written on the front face of the numeric keypad function, and the following functions are required to realize this. A process in which the Fn Lock mode and the normal mode are set alternately each time the Fn Lock key is pressed. When Fn Lock mode is set, both PC and keyboard device are set to Num Lock mode. This is because both the PC and the keyboard device must be set to the Fn Lock mode in order for the numeric keys corresponding to the numeric keys to function. A function that sends the code of the character written on the front of the numeric keypad in Fn Lock mode, and a function that sends the code of the character written on the top of the numeric keypad in normal mode. Processing to switch to normal mode by Fn Lock mode release command from PC to keyboard device.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the operation of the keyboard device. 1. FIG. 4 shows a main routine, in which I / O is initialized at power-on or reboot, and three display LEs are displayed.
D3, D4 and D5 are turned off, and the key corresponding to the ten keys functions as a normal mode.

Thereafter, the key switch matrix circuit 7
To check whether the state of the key has changed, and check the IN / OUT each time the key is scanned (FIG. 5).
If no command is received from the PC 8, a key code is output. If a command is received from the PC 8, a key code is output by performing processing according to the command.

After the key scan is completed, a Fn Lock mode check (see FIG. 6) and a Key Pad check (see FIG. 7) are executed. Then, the routine jumps to a routine for restarting the scan of the key switch matrix circuit 7, and the above processing is performed. repeat. The above is the main routine. 2. In the IN / OUT check shown in FIG. 5, host command processing (see FIG. 8) and key code output (see FIG. 9) are processed. In the host command processing, LED command processing (see FIG. 10) and other command processing are performed.

In the LED command processing, on / off of the three LEDs 3, 4, and 5 is processed according to the host command, and Fn
When Lock LED3 is turned on, Fn Lock mode is set, and when Fn Lock LED3 is turned off, Fn Lock
Reset the mode.

The key code output (see FIG. 9) is 16FI
A process for outputting the code stored in the FO output buffer is executed. The key code of the key whose key operation has been confirmed as a result of the key scan is stored in the output buffer, and the key code is transmitted through the clock line 9 and the data line 10. 3. The Fn Lock mode check shown in FIG. 6 executes the following processing when the Fn Lock key ON is detected.

When the mode is not the Fn Lock mode, the key code of the Fn Lock key is stored in the output buffer and the Fn Lock
The mode is set, and the Fn Lock LED 3 is turned on.

In the Fn Lock mode, the Fn Lock mode is released, the Fn Lock LED 3 is turned off, and the normal mode is set. 4. The Key Pad check shown in FIG. 7 executes the following processing when a key ON other than the Fn Lock key is detected.

When the ON of the key corresponding to the numeric keypad is detected, the key code corresponding to the numeric keypad is stored in the output buffer in the case of the Fn Lock mode, and the key code in the normal mode, ie, the keypad corresponding to the numeric keypad otherwise. Stores the code of the character written on the top of in the output buffer.

When a key ON other than the Fn Lock key and the numeric keypad corresponding key is detected, the key code of the key is stored in the output buffer.

As described above, the keyboard device of the present invention is set to the normal mode regardless of the setting of the Num Lock mode of the PC 8 unless the Fn Lock key 2 is turned on after power-on or reboot. , And sends the codes of the characters on the top of all keys. Thereafter, every time the Fn Lock key 2 is pressed, the Fn Lock mode and the normal mode are alternately switched. In the Fn Lock mode, both the PC 8 and the keyboard device 1 are set to the Num Lock mode, and the characters on the front of the numeric keypad function. In other words, the above function can solve the problem that the power is turned on and the Num Lock mode is set instead of the normal mode when the numeric keypad function is given to the alphanumeric key of the keyboard device for the desktop PC.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the technical scope of the present invention, and it is natural that the present invention extends to those modifications. is there.

[0024]

As described above, the keyboard device for an AT-compatible desktop PC according to the present invention can reduce the size of the keyboard device by allocating the functions of the numeric keys to the alphanumeric keys, thereby eliminating the need for the power on, Alternatively, the mode is set to the normal mode in which the codes of the characters on the top surface of all keys including the numeric keypad are transmitted at the time of reboot, regardless of the state of the input mode of the PC. Therefore, there is no need to switch from the Num Lock mode to the normal mode, which is a normal use state, every time power-on or reboot is performed, and a small and operable desktop PC keyboard device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a numeric keypad corresponding key portion of the keyboard device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the keyboard device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the operation of the keyboard device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an IN / OUT check routine;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a routine of Fn Lock mode check.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a keypad check routine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a host command processing routine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a routine of a key code output process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an LED command processing routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Keyboard device 2 Fn Lock key 3 Fn Lock LED

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard device for an AT-compatible desktop personal computer, wherein a ten-key function is assigned to a plurality of alphanumeric keys in the keyboard to make it a ten-key corresponding key. Processing means for alternately switching the function between a ten-key input mode functioning as a normal mode and all keys functioning as keys of characters written on the top of the key, and the keyboard device at power-on and at reboot. A keyboard device provided with processing means for setting the keyboard device to the normal mode regardless of the Num Lock mode setting of the connected computer.