JP2002049462A - Key input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key input device capable of surely inputting keys while reducing misoperation and simply carrying numerals. SOLUTION: Identification(ID) codes are respectively allocated to plural keys 8, and when any one of the keys 8 is released after depressing it, a control means 15 judges the input operation of the key 8 concerned.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key input device in which a large number of pressing keys are arranged on an operation unit, and more particularly to a key input device provided in a remote control device or the like of AV equipment to reduce the number of times of operation of the input keys to improve operability. It relates to a key input device that can be enhanced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of electric devices operated by key operation have been proposed because the number of input keys is inevitably increased with the increase in the number of functions and the operation is complicated and the cost is increased. Has been made. As an example of reducing the number of installed number input keys, a key input device as shown in FIG. 3 is known. This key input device is a key operation unit provided in a remote control device of a DVD player. The main operation key unit 4, the function key unit 5, the language setting key unit 6, and the numeric input key unit are provided on the surface plate 2 of the remote control main body 20. 7
And so on. Of these, the numeric input key section 7
Is provided with a [+10] key for inputting a 10-digit number in addition to a number key 8 consisting of "1" to "9" and "0". Reference numeral 9 denotes a clear key for correcting erroneous input, and reference numeral 10 denotes a memory key for determining and inputting a title or chapter number to be reproduced.

In this remote control device, when a user wants to arbitrarily designate a DVD title and reproduce the program, the user inputs and sets using the numeric keys 8 of the numeric input key section 7. For example, when inputting the title number "18", first press the [+10] key, and then press the [8]
Press the key. Then, the control unit built in the remote control main body 20 determines that “8” has been depressed after 10 digits, and determines that there is an input of “18”.
Send the numeric data to the player. As a result, the title number “1” is stored in the memory of the DVD player.
8 "data is stored and can be reproduced from this number. However, such a popular remote control device is
Originally, a [+10] key was provided to reduce a plurality of numeric keys for inputting 10 digits, but this key had to be provided so as to cut into the narrow surface plate 2 of the remote control main body 20. For this reason, the memory key 10 has to be provided at another position as shown in the figure due to the layout, and there remains a problem in terms of operability and aesthetic appearance.

Therefore, a key input device for reducing the number of keys in a ten-key portion of a copying machine has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-102231). This device supports a plurality of key switches. And a control means for judging that the intermediate input key has been operated based on the ON state of key switches and intermediate input keys supported by some of the corresponding input keys. Accordingly, the control means determines that the corresponding input key is depressed when one of the key switches is turned on, and is supported between the corresponding input keys corresponding thereto when a plurality of key switches are turned on at the same time. It is determined that the intermediate input key has been depressed.
Therefore, when any one of the ten keys and the like is assigned to the intermediate input key, the number of key switches can be reduced by the number of the intermediate input keys, and the cost can be reduced.

[0005]

The above-described conventional key input device has a structure in which an intermediate input key is supported between corresponding input keys, and the position of the intermediate input key is limited. There is a drawback that another key is pressed by mistake because it has to be adjacent. In particular, in the remote control device in which a large number of keys are arranged in a narrow space, the shape of each input key naturally becomes small, so that it is easy for the adjacent keys to be erroneously operated. Further, since this type of key input device determines that a key input has been made at the time of pressing operation, there is no time to confirm whether or not the current key is correct at the time of pressing, and even if an erroneous operation is performed, the same input is performed. Had the drawback of becoming

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and enables a secure key input with less erroneous operation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a key input device capable of easily performing a carry input of a number.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an identification code is assigned to each of a plurality of keys, and after any one of the keys is pressed, When the key is released, control means is provided for determining that an input operation of the key has been performed. Also, in the invention according to claim 2, the key is a numeric input key, and when another key is pressed while the first operation key is pressed, the first operation key carries up and the next operation is performed. The key is the lower digit, and when both keys are released, the control means determines that a numeric input in units of 10 digits has been made. Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the control means displays characters, numerals, symbols, and the like on the display means in accordance with the input operation of the key.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing a key input device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the key input device. The key input device is a key operation unit 3 of a remote control device for remotely controlling a DVD player, and a main operation key unit 4 is provided on a surface plate 2 side of a remote control main body 1.
A function key unit 5, a language setting key unit 6, a numeric input key unit 7, and the like are arranged. Further, a signal conversion unit 14, a control unit 15, and a transmission unit, a circuit unit, a light emitting element, a battery, and the like (not shown) are built in the remote control main body 1.
The main operation key unit 4 includes a power key, an open / close key, a reproduction setting key, an enter key, and the like.

The function key section 5 has a reproduction key, a fast-reverse key, a fast-forward key, a slow reproduction key, a frame-forward reproduction key, a stop key, and the like used when reproducing information on a DVD.
The language setting key unit 6 is used to select a language to be displayed on the screen, and can move a cursor on the screen up, down, left, and right by a pressing operation. The number input key section 7 is used for setting a reproduction time, specifying a title, a chapter number, a track number, and the like.
A numeric key 8 consisting of "9" and "0" is provided. 9
Is a clear key for correcting erroneous input, and 10 is a memory key for deciding and inputting the number of the title or track to be reproduced. The numeric input key section 7 arranges the numeric keys 8 "1" to "3", "4" to "6", "7" to "9" in three columns, Clear key 9 on left and right
And a memory key 10.

The numeric key 8 comprises an elliptical pressing portion 8a and a leg 8b, and a flange 8c is formed on the outer periphery of the pressing portion 8a. Then, each of the numeric keys 8 is such that the pressing portion 8a is loosely inserted into a key hole provided in the surface plate 2 and the leg portion 8b
Are held toward the key switch 11 side.
These key switches 11 are disposed on a switch board 12 and contact when pressed, and become non-contact when released, and lead wires 13 drawn from movable contacts and fixed contacts.
Are connected to the signal conversion unit 14, respectively. The signal converter 14 has a built-in matrix circuit, and its output is connected to the controller 15. When the pressing portion 8a of any of the numeric keys 8 is pressed down, the corresponding key switch 11 is turned on, and the key switch 1 is turned on.
Code data indicating the type of the key assigned to 1 is sent to the control unit 15 side.

The control unit 15 is composed of a microcomputer chip IC, is composed of a memory, a timer, a counter, and the like, and is bidirectionally connected to other circuit parts.
The output is connected to the transmitter. In addition, this transmission unit,
The output is connected to a light emitting element that emits an infrared signal.
As a result, when any one of the numeric keys 8 of the numeric input key unit 7 is pressed, code data indicating the numeric key 8 is transmitted from the signal conversion unit 14 to the control unit 15 side.
When the control unit 15 receives the code data,
It is determined whether or not to start counting the input time according to the type of the numeric key 8. If the input code data is of a type that does not cause a carry, it is determined that the numeric key 8 is pressed when the input of the code data is interrupted without counting, and the numerical data is output to the transmission unit. I do. Also, if the input code data is of a type to carry a digit, after the preset time (for example, 3 seconds) or more, the input digit is raised to 10 digits, and then a code to be input next is input. Data is input for lower digits. Thereafter, when both code data are no longer input, it is determined that a numeric input in units of 10 digits has been made, and the numeric data is transmitted to the transmission unit.

In this example, the number to be carried is "1" to
It is set to “9”, and it is possible to set titles in units of 10 digits, chapters and tracks in units of 100 digits,
The reproduction time in units of 60 minutes can also be set arbitrarily. In addition, since the transmitting unit is configured to transmit an infrared signal from the light emitting element when receiving the numerical data,
When this transmission signal is received by the DVD player, it is transmitted to the control unit of the player main body. This control unit
The operation starts in accordance with the content of the received signal, and when data such as numbers, characters, and symbols are input from the remote control device, a display control signal is sent to the display drive circuit to cause a desired display on the monitor screen. It has become.

Next, the key operation by the key input device will be described. Here, a case where the user sets the program reproduction will be described as an example. First, when the user presses the program key of the remote control device, a title program is displayed on the screen of the monitor. In this title program, a blank for entering a title number is displayed. For example, when the user wants to program-play the title number 18 of the DVD, the user first presses the numeric key "1" for 3 seconds or more, and then presses the numeric key "8". Then, the control unit 15 determines that the numeral “1” of the input code data is to be carried, and starts counting immediately. Then, at the point of time when 3 seconds have passed, the digit is increased to 10 digits, and the code data of "8" input next is set as the lower digit.

Thereafter, when the user stops pressing the numeric key 8, the code data is no longer input to the control unit 15. Therefore, the input numeral "18" is determined, and this numeric data is transmitted from the transmission unit. Accordingly, “18” is displayed in the blank of the title program displayed on the screen. At this time, when the user presses the memory key 10, a command signal indicating determination is transmitted, and data indicating the eighteenth title recorded on the DVD is stored in the memory. Such program reproduction setting can be similarly performed for other titles, and after all settings are completed, reproduction is sequentially performed from the title number “18”.
Note that the setting of the program reproduction is based on the recorded contents of the DVD, and is set according to the general number of titles.
A title program of about zero digits can be set, but a program setting can be made for a much larger number of chapters and tracks.

[0015]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when any key to which an identification code is assigned is pressed and then released, the input operation of that key is performed. Therefore, unlike the conventional case where the key input operation is determined at the time of pressing the key as in the related art, there is a margin that the key being operated can be reconfirmed, and the erroneous operation can be prevented. . According to the second aspect of the present invention, when another key is pressed while the first operation key is being pressed, the first operation key carries up, the next operation key becomes the lower digit, and both keys are pressed. Since it is determined that a ten-digit number has been input when the key is released, there is no need to provide a +10 key or the like as in the related art, and there is an advantage that the number of keys can be reduced accordingly. According to the third aspect of the present invention, characters, numbers, symbols, and the like are displayed on the display means in response to the key input operation, so that the key input can be properly performed while confirming the current input contents. There are advantages.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a key input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a key input device.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a conventional key input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 keys 15 control means

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Claims (3)

[Claims] An identification code is assigned to each of a plurality of keys, and when one of the keys is depressed and then released, control means is provided for determining that an input operation of the key has been performed. Key input device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the key is a numeric input key, and when another key is pressed while the first operation key is pressed,
The first operation key carries the next operation key and the next operation key becomes the lower digit.
2. The key input device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that a digit has been input in units of digits. 3. The key input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays characters, numerals, symbols, and the like on a display unit in response to the key input operation.