JP2001282419A - Keyboard with telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save a space of integral installation area of a computer and its peripheral equipment and to reduce the number of cables to connect a computer main body part with the peripheral equipment. SOLUTION: This keyboard is provided with plural key switches 18, a keyboard controller 14 to discriminate what of the key switches 18 is depressed, a receiver 4 with a speaker 16 and a microphone 17, an A/D-D/A converter 11 to convert an inputted digital signal into an analog voice signal, to output the analog voice signal to the speaker 16, to convert the analog voice signal to be outputted from the microphone 17 into the digital signal and to output it, a USB hub 13 and the keyboard controller 14 and a A/D-D/A converter 15 are made connectable with the computer main body part 1 through the USB hub 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a keyboard having a built-in telephone.

In order to perform data transmission between computers installed at remote locations, a method is known in which a modem is built in the computer and data is transmitted via a telephone line.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram of such a conventional computer.

[0004] As shown in FIG. 4, a telephone 32 and a keyboard 33 are connected to the computer main unit 31, and a mouse 34 is connected to the computer main unit 31 via the keyboard 33. The computer main unit 31 is connected to a LAN line (LAN) 35 and a telephone line (Telephone Line) 36,
It can communicate with another computer (not shown).

The computer main unit 31 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 37, a modem (MODEM) 38,
N interface (LAN I / F) 39, USB
An interface (USB I / F) 40.

[0007] The central processing unit 37 is a central device of the computer, controls interpretation and execution of instructions, and controls devices in the computer main unit 31 and devices connected to the computer main unit 31.

The modem 38 is connected to the computer main unit 31.
A data pump (Dat) for mutually converting between a digital signal used in the telephone and an analog signal that can be transmitted through the telephone line 36.
aPump) 41 and control for the telephone line (for example,
An NCU unit 42 for opening / disconnecting the telephone line, dialing a telephone number, and a relay (re) for selecting the telephone line 36 to the NCU unit 42 or the telephone 32.
lay 43). Here, relay 4
3 is usually connected to the telephone line 36 and the telephone 32, and when the handset 44 of the telephone 32 is lifted and a hook button (not shown) is turned off, the telephone 32
6, the telephone 32 continues to connect the telephone line 36 until the handset 44 is put down again and the hook button is turned on. On the other hand, when the NCU unit 42 transmits a line connection request for incoming or outgoing to the relay 43, the telephone line 36 is connected to the NCU unit 42, and a line disconnection request is transmitted from the NCU unit 42 to the relay 43. The telephone line 36 is kept connected to the NCU 42.

The USB interface 40 connects the central processing unit 37 to a USB compatible device such as the keyboard 33, and mutually converts a parallel signal used in the central processing unit and an NRZI serial signal used in USB.

The keyboard 33 is connected to a USB hub (USB).
HUB) 45 and keyboard controller (Key C)
(trl) 46. USB hub (USB
A hub (HUB) 45 is a concentrator for connecting a USB device, and connects a keyboard controller 46 and a mouse 34 to the USB interface 40 of the computer main unit 31. Keyboard controller 46
Determines which key switch (not shown) of the keyboard 33 has been pressed, and transmits a signal indicating the key switch pressed to the USB hub 45 to the USB hub 45.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION When a computer is set on a desk, in addition to the main body of the computer,
A display, keyboard, mouse, and telephone had to be installed, and the total installation area was large.
In addition, since the keyboard and the telephone must be connected to the computer main body, the number of cables for connection is increased, and the desk is cluttered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard with a telephone which can reduce the total installation area of a computer and reduce the number of cables running on a desk.

[0012]

To solve the above-mentioned problems, a keyboard with a telephone according to the present invention comprises a plurality of key switches, a keyboard controller for determining which of the key switches has been pressed, a speaker and a microphone. And a handset having a function of converting an input digital signal into an analog audio signal and outputting an analog audio signal to the speaker, and converting an analog audio signal output from the microphone into a digital signal. An A / D-D / A converter for outputting, and a USB hub, wherein the keyboard controller and the A / D
The DD / A converter can be connected to the computer main body via the USB hub.

Further, the keyboard with telephone according to the present invention comprises:
A handset having a plurality of key switches, a speaker and a microphone, and a USB controller;
The USB controller has a first endpoint and a second endpoint, and the first endpoint is a keyboard controller that determines which of the key switches has been pressed, and a second endpoint. The end point converts an input digital signal into an analog audio signal and outputs an analog audio signal to the speaker, and converts an analog audio signal output from the microphone into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal. / DD / A converter.

Further, the keyboard with telephone of the present invention comprises:
A receiver for mounting the handset; and a hook switch for detecting whether or not the handset is mounted on the receiver, wherein the keyboard controller performs the transmission based on a detection state of the hook switch. It is determined whether or not the handset is mounted on the receiver, and at least a part of the key switch is a numeric keypad capable of inputting a number, and the handset is mounted on the receiver. When the keyboard controller determines that, the numeric keypad functions as a key for inputting character data to the computer main body, and when the keyboard controller determines that the handset is not placed on the placement unit described above. The numeric keypad functions as a dial button for selecting a telephone number.

The keyboard with telephone according to the present invention comprises:
The A / D-D / A converter transmits and receives signals to and from the computer main unit according to an isochronous transfer protocol, and the keyboard controller transmits and receives signals to and from the computer main unit according to an interrupt transfer protocol. .

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a keyboard with a telephone according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard with a telephone of the present invention and a computer main body which can be connected to the keyboard with a telephone of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a top view of the keyboard with a telephone of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a keyboard 2 with a telephone is connected to the computer main unit 1, and a mouse 3 and a handset 4 are connected to the computer main unit 1 via the keyboard 2 with a telephone. It is connected. Further, the computer main unit 1 is connected to a LAN line (LA
N) 5 and a telephone line (Telephon Line) 6
And can communicate with another computer (not shown).

The computer main unit 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 7, a modem (MODEM) 8, a LAN
An interface (LAN I / F) 9 and a USB interface 10 are provided.

The central processing unit 7 is a central device of the computer and controls the interpretation and execution of instructions, and the devices in the computer main unit 1 and the computer main unit 1 are controlled.
To control the devices connected to it.

The modem 8 has a data pump (Data P) for mutually converting digital signals used in the computer main unit 1 and analog signals that can be transmitted through the telephone line 6.
NCU (Network) that controls the telephone line
(or a Control Unit) 12. The modem 8 is capable of performing data communication and voice communication. When performing data communication, the data pump 11 modulates a digital signal to be transmitted into an analog signal and simultaneously receives a received analog signal. Demodulate the signal into a digital signal. When the modem 8 performs voice communication, the data pump 11 D / A-converts the digitized voice signal to be transmitted to an analog voice signal, and converts the received analog voice signal to A / A.
D conversion and digitization.

The LAN interface 9 connects the central processing unit 7 to the LAN line 5, and mutually converts a parallel signal used in the central processing unit 7 and a serial signal used in the LAN line.

The USB interface 10 connects the central processing unit 7 with a USB-compatible device, and uses a parallel signal used in the central processing unit 7 and an NRZI used in USB.
And serial signals.

The keyboard with telephone 2 is one of the USB compatible devices, and has a USB hub (USB HUB) 1.
3 and keyboard controller (Key Ctrl) 1
4 and an A / D-D / A converter 15. US
A B hub (USB HUB) 13 is a concentrator that connects a plurality of USB devices, and connects a keyboard controller 14, an A / D-D / A converter 15 and a mouse 3 to the USB interface 10 of the computer main unit 1. Connected. Since the cable connecting the USB hub 13 and the USB interface 10 is a USB-compatible cable, the cable includes two signal lines and +5 V and GND lines for supplying power to the device.

The keyboard controller 14 determines which of the key switches 18 (see FIG. 2) of the keyboard with telephone 2 has been pressed, and sends a signal indicating the pressed key switch 18 to the USB hub 13.

The A / D-D / A converter 15 converts the digital signal of the USB system transmitted from the USB hub 13 into an analog audio signal, and sends the analog signal to a speaker 16 built in the handset 4. Transmit audio signal. The A / D-D / A converter 15 converts an analog audio signal output from the microphone 17 incorporated in the handset 4 into a digital signal of the USB system.
The data is transmitted to the SB hub 13.

The external appearance of the keyboard with telephone 2 has a shape as shown in FIG. 2, and a mounting portion 19 is provided on the left side when viewed from the user side so that the handset 4 can be easily picked up with the left hand. The handset 4 can be placed on the unit 19. The receiver 19 is provided with a hook switch 20 so that it is possible to detect whether or not the handset 4 is mounted on the receiver 19. A plurality of key switches 18 are provided on the right side of the mounting section 19 so that characters can be input to the computer main body 1. For example, 104 key switches 18 are provided, and among them, the key switch 18 arranged on the right side is a ten key 18a capable of inputting a number.

Next, the operation of the keyboard with telephone 2 and the computer main unit 1 will be described. Handset 4
When the handset is placed on the receiver 19, the hook switch 20 detects that the handset is placed on the receiver 19, and the handset 4 is placed on the receiver 19. Is transmitted to the keyboard controller 14. Then, the keyboard controller 14 determines that the handset is placed on the placement unit 19, controls the function of the numeric keypad 18a, and when the numeric keypad 18a is pressed, the character data corresponding to the pressed numeric key ( (Including numbers) to the computer main unit 1 by the interrupt transfer protocol. The interrupt transfer protocol can send only a relatively small amount of data instead of performing error detection.

When the handset 4 is placed on the receiver 19, the modem 8 can be used for data communication.

On the other hand, when the handset 4 is picked up from the receiver 19, the hook switch 20 detects that the handset is not mounted on the receiver 19, and the handset 4 is moved to the receiver 19. A signal indicating that it is not mounted is transmitted to the keyboard controller 14. Then, the keyboard controller 14 determines that the handset is not placed on the placement unit 19, controls the function of the numeric keypad 18a, causes the numeric keypad 18a to function as a dial button for selecting a telephone number, and Is transmitted to the modem 8 by the interrupt transfer protocol via the USB hub 13, the USB interface 10, and the central processing unit 7. The modem 8 controls the NCU 12 to open a telephone line. In this state, the numeric keypad 18a
Is pressed, the keyboard controller 14 transmits a signal indicating that the numeric keypad 18a as a dial button has been pressed to the USB hub 13 by an interrupt transfer protocol. This signal is sent from the USB hub 13
The data is transmitted to the USB interface 10 and transmitted to the modem 8 via the central processing unit 7. The modem 8 is NC
A tone corresponding to the numeric keypad 18a pressed by U12 is generated and dialed. When the telephone line is opened, the handset 4 and the telephone line are connected to the A / D-D / A converter 15,
The USB hub 13, the USB interface 10, the central processing unit 7, and the modem 8 are connected to each other. At this time, signals are transmitted and received between the A / D-D / A converter 15 and the USB interface 10 by an isochronous transfer protocol. In the isochronous transfer eggplant protocol, a signal is transmitted and received between the handset 4 and the telephone line 6 because the bandwidth is guaranteed instead of performing no error detection. Signals are transmitted and received between the USB interface 10 and the modem 8 by parallel digital signals. Modem 8
Then, the audio signal to be transmitted, which has been converted into a parallel digital signal by the data pump 11, is D / A converted again to an analog audio signal, and then transmitted to the telephone line 6 and sent from the telephone line 6. The analog audio signal is A / D converted by the data pump 11 into a parallel digital signal.

Thereafter, when the handset 4 is again placed on the receiver 19, the hook switch 20 detects that the handset has been placed on the receiver 19, and the handset 4 is placed on the receiver 19. A signal indicating that it is placed on the unit 19 is transmitted to the keyboard controller 14. Then, the keyboard controller 14 determines that the handset is placed on the placement unit 19, controls the function of the numeric keypad 18a, and
a functions as a key for inputting character data, and transmits a signal for disconnecting the telephone line to the modem 8 through the USB hub 13, the USB interface 10, and the central processing unit 7 by an interrupt transfer protocol. The modem 8 controls the NCU 12 to disconnect the telephone line.

The method of making a telephone call through a public telephone line using the keyboard with telephone of the present invention is as described above, but TCP, which is a kind of protocol, is used.
It is also possible to use the telephone-equipped keyboard of the present invention to make an Internet call via a LAN line corresponding to / IP.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram of a keyboard with a telephone according to the present invention and a computer main body which can be connected to the keyboard with a telephone according to the present invention. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The point is that the keyboard controller 14 and the A / D-D / A converter 15 are provided as end points in the common device controller 21.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the computer main body 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

The keyboard with telephone 2 includes a USB hub (USB HUB) 13 and a device controller 2.
1 and built-in. The device controller 21
Keyboard controller 14 as endpoint
And an A / D-D / A converter 15, and each end point is connected to the USB hub 13 via the USB controller 22. Also USB
The hub 13 is a concentrator that connects a plurality of USB devices, and connects the device controller 21 and the mouse 3 to the USB interface 10 of the computer main unit 1.
Connected to

The keyboard controller 14 determines which of the key switches 18 of the keyboard 2 shown in FIG. 2 has been pressed, and sends a signal indicating the pressed key switch 18 to the USB hub 13.

The A / D-D / A converter 15 converts the digital signal of the USB system transmitted from the USB hub 13 into an analog audio signal, and sends the analog signal to a speaker 16 built in the handset 4. Transmit audio signal. The A / D-D / A converter 15 converts the analog audio signal output from the microphone 17 built in the handset 4 into a USB digital signal,
The data is transmitted to the SB hub 13.

[0037]

As described above, the keyboard with telephone according to the present invention includes the USB hub, the handset, and the keyboard controller, and the handset is connected via the A / D-D / A converter and the USB hub. And the keyboard controller is connected to the computer main unit via a USB hub, so that the keyboard and the telephone can be integrated, and the number of cables connected to the computer main unit can be reduced. Further, since the keyboard controller and the A / D-D / A converter are compatible with USB, only the USB-compatible cable is used, and the thickness of the cable can be reduced.

Further, the keyboard with telephone according to the present invention comprises:
A handset and a device controller are provided. The device controller includes a USB controller, a keyboard controller, and an A / D-connector connected to the handset.
Since it has a D / A converter and is connected to a keyboard controller and an A / D-D / A converter via a USB controller, the keyboard and telephone can be integrated and connected to the computer main unit. The number of cables can be reduced.

The keyboard with a telephone according to the present invention comprises:
A hook switch for detecting whether or not the handset is placed on the receiver, and a key for inputting character data to the computer main body when the handset is mounted on the receiver. When the handset is not placed on the receiver, the numeric keypad functions as a dial button for selecting a telephone number, so the numeric keypad functions as a key to enter character data and a function as a dial button The overall installation area of the computer can be reduced because the computer is also used.

The keyboard A with a telephone according to the present invention has
The / D-D / A converter transmits and receives signals to and from the computer main body according to the isochronous transfer protocol,
Since the keyboard controller transmits and receives signals to and from the computer main body according to the interrupt transfer protocol, it can transmit and receive voices and character data between the keyboard with telephone and the computer main body without delay.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a keyboard with a telephone of the present invention and a computer main body connected to the keyboard with a telephone of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the appearance of the keyboard with telephone according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the keyboard with telephone of the present invention and a computer main body connected to the keyboard with telephone of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer main body 2 Keyboard with telephone 3 Mouse 4 Handset 5 LAN line 6 Telephone line 7 Central processing unit 8 Modem 9 LAN interface 10 USB interface 11 Data pump 12 NCU unit 13 USB hub 14 Keyboard controller 15 A / D-D / A converter 16 Speaker 17 Microphone 18 Key switch 18a Numeric keypad 19 Placement unit 20 Hook switch 21 Device controller 22 USB controller 31 Computer main unit 32 Telephone 33 Keyboard 34 Mouse 35 LAN line 36 Telephone line 37 Central processing unit 38 Modem 39 LAN interface 40 USB Interface 41 Data Pump 42 NCU 43 Relay 44 Handset 45 USB Hub 46 Keyboard Controller

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of key switches, a keyboard controller for determining which one of the key switches has been pressed, a handset having a speaker and a microphone, and converting an input digital signal into an analog voice signal A / A which outputs an analog audio signal to the speaker and converts an analog audio signal output from the microphone into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal.
A D / A converter and a USB hub, wherein the handset is connected to the A / D converter, and the keyboard controller and the A / D-D / A converter are connected via the USB hub. A keyboard with a telephone, wherein the keyboard can be connected to a computer main body. 2. A handset having a plurality of key switches, a handset having a speaker and a microphone, and a device controller, the device controller comprising:
B controller, keyboard controller, A
/ D / D / A converter, the handset is connected to the A / D converter, and the keyboard controller determines which of the key switches has been pressed, The D / D / A converter converts an input digital signal into an analog audio signal, outputs an analog audio signal to the speaker, and converts an analog audio signal output from the microphone into a digital signal. After the conversion, the USB controller and the A / D-D /
A keyboard with a telephone, wherein the A converter can be connected to a computer main body. 3. A mounting section for mounting the handset,
A hook switch for detecting whether or not the handset is placed on the receiver, wherein the keyboard controller determines whether the handset is mounted on the receiver according to the detection state of the hook switch. If the keyboard controller determines that at least a part of the key switch is a numeric keypad capable of inputting a number and the handset is placed on the receiver, the numeric keypad is determined. Functioning as a key for inputting character data to the computer main body, and when the keyboard controller determines that the handset is not placed on the placement section, the numeric keypad is a dial button for selecting a telephone number. The keyboard with a telephone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the keyboard functions as a keyboard. 4. The A / D-D / A converter transmits and receives signals to and from the computer main unit according to an isochronous transfer protocol, and the keyboard controller transmits and receives signals to and from the computer main unit according to an interrupt transfer protocol. The keyboard with telephone according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the keyboard transmits and receives signals.