JP2002062963A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard device capable of reducing the number of keys and easily operating keys by inputting different characters or the like according to the moving positions of a key. SOLUTION: This keyboard device performs a code input corresponding to a character, numeral, or mark by being operated. This device comprises a mechanism having a reference position and one or more input accept parts in conformation with at least one key to move the key from the reference position to each of the moving positions. The input accept parts output independent codes, respectively, according to the operation to the key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device for inputting characters and the like, in which keys can be moved and characters and the like are assigned in accordance with the positions of the keys.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent spread of small portable information terminals,
In order to use e-mails and the like not in the desk but in the city, characters are often input. Note that small portable information terminals include notebook personal computers, PDAs, and mobile phones. Notebook computers use the same standardized keyboards as those used in personal computers. The keyboard layout includes an ASCII layout used for an English keyboard and a JIS layout used for a Japanese keyboard. However, it is disadvantageous for carrying because it is larger than a PDA or a mobile phone. In PDA, a method of writing characters on a touch panel type liquid crystal using a pen or the like and inputting the characters by character recognition, or a method of inputting by touching a keyboard on the liquid crystal screen with a pen or the like is general. In a mobile phone, characters or the like are generally input using a combination of numeric keys.

On the other hand, the number of keys in a normal keyboard is about 100, and input is performed by simultaneously pressing predetermined keys such as command keys in order to correspond to special symbols and the like.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an example of the structure of a conventional keyboard. That is, when the key 501 is pressed in FIG. 5, the wall 505 is pressed, and the contact points 502 and 503 come into contact. For example, if a voltage is applied to the contacts 502 and 503 and a current flows at the moment of contact,
The input operation determination unit 507 can determine that the operation of pressing the “a” key has been performed.
In general, when the key 501 is stopped, the spring 504 returns to the original position. 506 is a keyboard main body, and 508 is a connection code.

[0005]

A method of writing characters on a touch panel type liquid crystal using a pen or the like like a PDA and inputting the characters by character recognition, or inputting by touching a keyboard on the liquid crystal screen with a pen or the like. The method has a problem that the input time is longer than that of the keyboard.

In a method of inputting characters only by operating a numeric keypad, such as a mobile phone, there is a problem that it takes a long time to input one character because the key must be pressed a plurality of times.

[0007] A keyboard used in a personal computer or the like has a standardized key layout standard, so that it is not necessary to re-store the key layout by a device. Furthermore, there is an advantage that the input time is shorter than that of pen touch or numeric keypad. However, these keyboards are so large that it is difficult to carry them, and further miniaturization is desired.

Therefore, several keyboards for reducing the number of keys for small portable information terminals have been devised. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-152469, by assigning a plurality of characters to one key, character input can be performed using only a small number of keys. This is advantageous in that it can be carried because the number of keys can be reduced. However, there is a problem that the method of use is different from that of a keyboard usually used in a personal computer or the like, and that the key arrangement must be stored because the key assignment is unique.

Further, even with a keyboard having a normal key layout,
When the number of frequently used special symbols increases, it is necessary to depress the command key each time, which places a burden on the user.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and different characters and the like are input depending on the key movement position.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard device that can reduce the number of keys and can easily operate keys.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a keyboard device having keys for inputting codes corresponding to characters, numbers and symbols by receiving an operation. Corresponding to the reference position, the apparatus has an input receiving unit at each of a reference position and at least one or more moving positions, and has means for moving the key from the reference position to each of the moving positions. And outputs independent codes.

According to the present invention, as an input method using one key, characters and the like are input by moving and pressing a key without simultaneously pressing a command key or the like. As a result, not only a keyboard with a reduced number of keys can be realized, but also special symbols and the like can be easily input.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, a keyboard device in which the number of keys considered as a typical use of a keyboard for inputting characters or the like with movable keys is reduced will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the number of keys is three, but the number of keys may be arbitrary. The user performs operations such as pressing on the key portions 101 to 103. The input operation determination unit 104 determines which key has been pressed or the like, and transmits the input characters and the like to the computer through the connection cable 105 connected to the computer body.

One of the causes of high-speed character input using a keyboard is touch typing. Touch typing is a method of pressing a key without looking at a keyboard, and is generally performed. In touch typing, which finger is to be put on which key (home position) is determined before starting input. When inputting, be sure to place the finger at the home position, move only the required finger, press the desired key, and return the finger to the home position when finished. According to this method, the input can be performed quickly and easily. For example, in a JIS layout keyboard, the little finger, ring finger, middle finger, and forefinger of the left hand are placed at positions "a", "s", "d", and "f", respectively, and the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger of the right hand are respectively set to " j ",
The home position is located at the positions of “k”, “l”, and “;”. Also, thumbs of both hands are usually placed on the space key. Therefore, there are a total of nine keys on which a finger should be placed as the home position.

Hereinafter, a keyboard device for inputting characters and the like with movable keys in which the number of keys is reduced based on touch typing will be described. It should be noted that even if a method other than touch typing is used, by reducing the number of keys in the same manner as in the following example, it is possible to configure a keyboard device that can be used without having to re-store the key arrangement.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the external appearance of the keyboard device according to the present invention. In this example, the number of keys is ten, but the number of keys may be arbitrary. FIG. 2 shows a keyboard for inputting characters and the like with movable keys, excluding the nine keys and the shift key, which are the home positions described above, and excluding other keys. Each key 201, 202, 203, 204, 2
When 05, 206, 207, and 208 are pressed, "a", "s", "d", "f", "j",
“K”, “l”, and “;” are input. The shift key 209 and the space key 210 function exactly the same as a general JIS keyboard.

In touch typing, a key to be pressed is determined for each finger. For example, for the little finger of the left hand, the assigned key is “1”, “2”, “q”, “a”,
The case of “z” will be described. In the example of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, one key (201 in FIG. 2) plays the role of the five keys assigned to the little finger of the left hand. 212,
213, 214, and 215 are “1”, “2”,
This shows the positions where the keys “q” and “z” should be. 2
Reference numeral 11 denotes a keyboard main body, and 216 denotes a connection cord.

Hereinafter, the key 201 will be described. 2
When the key 01 is pressed, "a" can be input. A method of inputting “1”, “2”, “q”, and “z” using the key 201 will be described.

The operation of the keyboard device according to the present invention will be described. In the keyboard device of the present invention, not only “a” but also “1”, “2”,
"Q" and "z" can be input. These keys are generally located at 212,213,214,215. In the embodiment of the present invention, the key of 201 is 212,
The characters "1", "2", "q", and "z" are input by being depressed to positions 213, 214, and 215.

Details will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
1 is a configuration diagram of a keyboard device of the present invention. The key 301 is connected to the wires 307 and 308,
5, 309 are directly above the switch unit 302 when no force is applied.
Each of the switch units 302, 303, 304 is a contact 50 of FIG.
2, 503, a spring 504, and a wall 505. The switch units are the key units 101 to 101 in FIG.
103.

When the key 301 is depressed, a signal indicating that the key is depressed is transmitted from the switch 302 to the input operation discriminator 311, and becomes an input signal such as a character corresponding to the switch 302. Transmitted to the computer via The key of 301 can be moved right and left along the guide of 306. For example, when the user moves the button to the left and presses it just above the switch section 303, a signal indicating that a key has been pressed is transmitted from the switch section 303 to the input operation determination section 311. It becomes an input signal and is transmitted to the computer via the connection cable 312. When the force applied to the key of the key 301 is released, the key of the key 301 returns to the position directly above the switch 302 by the action of the spring 309. Similarly, when the key is pressed just above the switch unit 304, a signal indicating that a key is pressed is transmitted from the switch unit 304 to the input operation determining unit 311 and becomes an input signal such as a character corresponding to the switch unit 304. , 312 via the connection cable. When the force applied to the key of the key 301 is released, the spring 305 functions to place the key 3 right above the switch 302.
The 01 key returns. In FIG. 3, the switches are 302 and 30.
Although there are only three locations, ie, 3,304, actually, the number and position of switch units corresponding to the role of the key in touch typing are provided. Reference numeral 310 denotes a keyboard body.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation of the key viewed from above. When no force is applied to the key 401 (when the hand is not touched), the wires 403, 410, 4
12 and stays at the reference position. The reference position is the position where the key 401 is located in FIG. For this reason, the user can properly use the reference position depending on whether or not it remains at the reference position.

The guides 402, 408, and 411 intersect immediately below the key 401 in FIG. The key 401 can move to any of these three guides. Therefore, when moving, any direction can be selected from the three directions.

When there are two or more switch units in a guide in a certain direction, a key is moved just above a desired switch unit to select an input character. When the key is depressed by the operation, the depression is recognized by the contact point of the switch unit 302 in FIG. When the user releases the power, the state of the pressed state returns to the state before the pressed state by the spring of the switch unit 302 in FIG. Thereafter, the key is pulled by the wire and returns to the reference position.

The keys 401 are guides 402, 408, 4
11 along with the switch units 404, 407, 409, 41
It is possible to move to just above 4. So key 40
By pressing 1, the switch units 404,
Characters and the like corresponding to 407, 409, and 414 can be input. By pressing the key 401 as it is, it is possible to input a character or the like corresponding to the switch unit immediately below. For example, if the key 401 is pressed as it is, "a" is input, and 404, 407, 409, 4
When the switch is moved to the switch unit 14 and pressed, "2", "1", "q", and "z" are input, respectively, so that the keyboard can be used in the same manner as a JIS layout keyboard. . 405, 406, 413 are springs, 41
5 is a keyboard main body, 416 is an input operation determination unit, 417
Is a connection code.

In a general keyboard, the size is determined by the distance between the keys. In the present invention, the size of the switch is easily determined because the position of the switch is freely determined.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, by using one key to move and press a key,
Characters and the like can be input accordingly. The role of a plurality of keys in a conventional keyboard can be represented by one key in the keyboard device of the present invention, so that even if the number of keys is reduced, a keyboard device that can be used as it is with the conventional keyboard can be configured. It is. If the number of keys can be reduced, it can contribute to miniaturization of portable information devices such as mobile phone terminals, PDAs, and notebook computers.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an example of an external appearance of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the keyboard device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the structure of a conventional keyboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 key section 102 key section 103 key section 104 input operation determination section 105 connection cable 201 "a" key 202 "s" key 203 "d" key 204 "f" key 205 "j" key 206 "k" key 207 "l" Key 208 ";" key 209 Shift key 210 Susky key 211 Keyboard body 212 1 key position 213 2 key position 214 q key position 215 z key position 216 connection code 301 key 302 switch section 303 switch section 304 switch Unit 305 spring 306 guide 307 wire 308 wire 309 spring 310 keyboard body 311 input operation determination unit 312 connection code 401 key 402 guide 403 wire 404 switch unit 405 spring 406 spring 407 switch unit 408 g De 409 switch unit 410 wire 411 guide 412 wire 413 spring 414 switch unit 415 keyboard body 416 input operation determination unit 417 connecting cord

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01H 13/14 (72) Inventor Yoshikuni Nishida 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Telephone Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mizuho Inoue 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5B020 DD02 DD11 FF19 5G006 AZ09 CD02 DD05

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A character, a number,
A key device for inputting a code corresponding to a symbol, comprising: an input receiving unit corresponding to at least one key at a reference position and at least one or more movement positions; A keyboard device comprising: means for moving to each of the movement positions, wherein the input receiving unit outputs an independent code in accordance with an operation on the key.