JP2006215845A - Keyboard cover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard cover for effectively aiding key selection by a keyboard input. <P>SOLUTION: A keyboard cover (101) is configured by grouping characters to be inputted from a keyboard so that when the keyboard cover section corresponding to keys to be used when inputting characters is used as a character input equivalent section, a connection diagram connecting the character input equivalent section of all characters belonging to the same group can be printed as the connection diagram viewed from the use position at nearly the upper part regardless of the projection/recession of the keyboard cover. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a keyboard cover formed so as to cover a keyboard provided as an input device in a computer, various terminals, or the like.

When a user uses a computer to input characters, a keyboard is used. In a Japanese input keyboard, English characters are arranged in a key with a QWERTY layout and Japanese kana characters are arranged in a JIS kana layout. It is common. Nowadays, with the spread of personal computers, beginners have more opportunities to use computers, but the standard keyboard character arrangement is unfamiliar to beginners and it is difficult to find the key position of the characters to be entered There is. As a means for solving this, a technique for coloring or special display on a keyboard cover is known as in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 in order to make it easier to select a key to be used for input, particularly when used by beginners. Yes.

In Patent Document 1 of this prior art, in character input using a keyboard (for example, kana JIS kana array), the key equivalent corresponding to the characters on the keyboard cover is set for each well-known group (for example, 50-note character). By color-coding each line), it is possible to select keys for input from among many keys when the keyboard cover is attached. In addition, a color heading sticker that collectively displays the group name and its color is also disclosed.

On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, characters that can be input are displayed side by side in an index, and a line from the index to a key used for input is displayed, so that the user can connect a line from the index to the key. By tracing, you can select the key for input smoothly.

These assistive technologies are required because the standard keyboard layout (QWERTY layout, JIS kana layout) on the keyboard is different from the generally well-known sequence of characters (for example, ABC order, Aiueo order). This is because it is difficult for a user who does not remember the layout of the key to find the key position to be input.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No.7-13030 (JP, U) JP 2002-189551 (JP, A)

In a keyboard cover (Patent Document 1) in which a corresponding part of the keyboard cover is colored for each group (Patent Document 1), a method for a user to search for a key position based on the color of a group assigned to a character related to input is as follows. This is an effective guideline for selecting a target key from among many keys, but in the end, it is necessary to directly find a key related to input. This is particularly difficult when the same group of keys are separated from each other.

Moreover, in the keyboard cover (Patent Document 2) in which an index is displayed and a key related to input can be directly selected from the index, the index must be displayed in any place of the keyboard cover, and all characters ( For example, displaying all 50 kana characters as an index is not possible depending on the type of keyboard product (for example, a keyboard on a laptop computer), or it is necessary to change the index display position for each type of keyboard product. is there. In particular, when the number of characters to be indexed is limited, it is difficult for the user to search for keys for other characters.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard cover that effectively assists key selection in keyboard input when worn.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a keyboard cover that covers an operation surface of a keyboard, and a keyboard cover portion corresponding to a key used when inputting a certain character is referred to as a character input equivalent portion. The characters that can be input by the keyboard are divided into groups, and if necessary, from the character input equivalent part of the characters in the group, if necessary, pass through some character input equivalent parts of the characters belonging to the same group, and all other characters belonging to the same group By forming a connection link so that it reaches the character input equivalent part of the character, the character input equivalent part of all characters belonging to the same group becomes a connection network that connects to each other, and the connection link of the connection network is represented by a line or a combination of lines This is a connection diagram, and the connection diagram is displayed.

In order to attain the object of providing a keyboard cover capable of guiding to the key positions of other groups and performing input smoothly in addition to the invention of claim 1, the invention described in claim 2 The link connecting at least one set of character input equivalent parts is displayed as a line or a combination of lines for at least two groups.

In order to achieve the purpose of making the guide of the key position more understandable in addition to the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the invention described in claim 3 is provided for at least two lines or a combination of lines. Different colors and / or types.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, guidance from the input key position of a character in the same group to the input key position of another character is indicated by a line or a combination of lines. Therefore, when searching for a character to be entered by the user, if another character in the same group is found on the keyboard, the key position of the target character can be smoothed by following the guidance line from the position of this other character. You can search.

Furthermore, in the invention of claim 2, when a character of another group is found on the keyboard when searching for a character to be input by the user, the group is searched from another group to another group to search for the target character group. As a result, the position to the target character can be searched more smoothly.

Further, in the invention of claim 3, by changing the color or / and the kind of the guide line or the combination of lines, the guidance to the key such as the discrimination of the group or the discrimination between the groups can be made clearer and the input can be performed more smoothly. become able to.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As an example of the keyboard, a description will be given for a keyboard in which Japanese kana is arranged in a JIS kana array and English characters are arranged in a QWERTY array.

First, characters that can be input by the keyboard are divided into several groups. As a grouping of Japanese characters, for each kana in Japanese syllabary order, for each line, the first kana group is the five letters “A, I, U, E, O” and the second Kana group is Kana line “Ka, Ki, Ku, Ke, Ko” with 5 characters, 3rd kana group with 3 lines “Sa, Shi, Su, Se, So” and 4th Kana group with “Ta” ,,,,, And "", and the fifth kana group is the five characters "Nana, Nu, Ne, no" and the sixth kana group is the line "Ha, Hi, Fu". , He, ho ”, the 7th kana group is the 5 characters“ ma, mi, mu, me, mo ”, and the 8th kana group is the 3 characters,“ ya, yu, yo ”. Suppose that the 9th kana group has 5 characters “Rari, Ruru, Re, and R”, and finally the 2nd character “Wa-n” as the 10th kana group.

Furthermore, as a grouping for English alphabet characters, the first alphabet group is 4 characters “A, B, C, D” and the second alphabet group is 3 characters “E, F, G” in ABC order. The third alphabet group is four characters “H, I, J, K”, the fourth alphabet group is three characters “L, M, N”, and the fifth alphabet group is “O, P, Q, R ”is four characters, the sixth alphabet group is three characters“ S, T, U ”, and finally the seventh alphabet group is five characters“ V, W, X, Y, Z ”.

As for the connection relationship between groups, for the above 10 Japanese kana groups, “a, ka”, “ka, sa”, “sa, The combination of “ta”, “ta, na,” “na, ha,” “hama,” “ma, ya,” “ya, la,” “ra, wa,” “wa, a” is the connection between kana groups.

Furthermore, as a connection relation between English groups, the above-mentioned seven English groups are combinations “D, E”, “G, H”, “K, L”, “N, O” which are combinations before and after ABC order. A combination of “R, S” and “U, V” is defined as a connection relationship between alphabetic groups.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view of a keyboard cover according to the present invention. The keyboard cover (101) is three-dimensionally molded so as to cover the entire key operation surface of a keyboard in a computer or the like. Moreover, translucency is given so that printing, such as a keyboard key, can see through at the time of mounting | wearing. The keyboard cover (101) is printed with an intra-group connection diagram (102) displayed as a line or a combination of lines so as to connect the character input equivalent parts belonging to the same group for each of the above groups. The inter-group connection diagram (103) displayed as a line or a combination of lines is printed so as to connect the character input equivalent parts of the characters between different groups. These connection diagrams are printed so that each straight line is a straight line when viewed from a substantially upper use position regardless of the unevenness of the keyboard cover, and the connection diagram can be seen in the connection diagram.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the keyboard cover (101) is attached to the keyboard. In this keyboard, two or more characters are assigned to one key and printed. An intra-group connection network is formed by the characters printed on the keyboard and the intra-group connection diagram (102). The intra-group connection network passes from the character input equivalent part of one character of the group to the character input equivalent part of all other characters of the group via the character input equivalent part and connection line of other characters in the same group. Can be traced. Further, an inter-group connection network is formed by the characters printed on the keyboard and the inter-group connection diagram (103). The inter-group connection network is a line connecting different groups, and a connection network can be formed hierarchically by this and the connection network in the group.

Since the respective connection lines may cross each other, an explanatory diagram of the connection lines for each group in which they are separately displayed is shown in FIGS. Note that these connection diagrams are superimposed on the actual keyboard cover.

FIG. 3 shows a connection diagram of the first kana group (201), a connection diagram of the second kana group (202), a connection diagram of the fourth kana group (204), and a connection of the eighth kana group. A diagram (208) and a connection diagram (210) of the tenth kana group are shown, and the state of the characters and connection lines for each group is illustrated. FIG. 4 shows a connection diagram (203) for the third kana group and a connection diagram (207) for the seventh kana group, and illustrates the state of the characters and connection lines for each group. FIG. 5 shows a connection diagram (205) of the fifth kana group and a connection diagram (209) of the ninth kana group, and illustrates the state of the characters and connection lines for each group. FIG. 6 shows a connection diagram (206) of the sixth kana group, and illustrates the letters of the group and the state of the connection lines.

FIG. 7 shows a connection diagram (301) of the first alphabet group, a connection diagram (302) of the second alphabet group, a connection diagram (303) of the third alphabet group, and a connection of the fourth alphabet group. A diagram (304) and a connection diagram (305) of the fifth alphabet group are shown, and the state of the characters and connection lines for each group is illustrated. FIG. 8 shows a connection diagram (306) of the sixth alphabet group, and illustrates the state of characters and connection lines for each group. FIG. 9 shows a connection diagram (307) of the seventh alphabet group, and illustrates the state of characters and connection lines for each group.

FIG. 10 shows an inter-group connection diagram (401) for Japanese Kana, and FIG. 11 shows an English inter-group connection diagram (402).

As shown in FIG. 2, the intra-group connection diagram (102) and the inter-group connection diagram (103) are arranged so that the characters on the attached keyboard are not overlapped as much as possible. It is good to constitute. Connection lines of different groups are displayed so that the lines do not overlap in parallel even though they intersect each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the lines are shifted in parallel and displayed so as not to overlap each other. Inter-group connection lines are also displayed so that the lines do not overlap in parallel even though they may intersect with other connection diagrams.

In addition, the intra-group connection diagram and the inter-group connection diagram are preferably displayed in different colors for each connection diagram. As an example of color coding, the first kana group connection is used for Japanese kana. The diagram is displayed in blue, the connection diagram of the second kana group is displayed in red, the connection diagram of the third kana group is displayed in green, the connection diagram of the fourth kana group is displayed in brown, The connection diagram of the fifth kana group is displayed in yellow-green, the connection diagram of the sixth kana group is displayed in bright light blue, the connection diagram of the seventh kana group is displayed in pink, and the connection of the eighth kana group The diagram is displayed in black, the connection diagram of the ninth kana group is displayed in light blue, and the connection diagram of the tenth kana group is displayed in gray. For English letters, the connection diagram of the first alphabet group is displayed in blue, the connection diagram of the second alphabet group is displayed in light blue, the connection diagram of the third alphabet group is displayed in red, and the fourth alphabet The connection diagram of the group is displayed in light red, the connection diagram of the fifth alphabet group is displayed in green, the connection diagram of the sixth alphabet group is displayed in light green, and the connection diagram of the seventh alphabet group is displayed. Display in gray.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the above form, As shown in part below, it can be variously changed. The intra-group connection network and the inter-group connection network are not only formed by the printed characters on the keyboard and the connection diagrams on the keyboard cover, but also the characters and connection diagrams can be printed on the keyboard cover on the keyboard. It may be done. Moreover, those printing is indirectly printed on a sealing body, and it is also possible to affix it. The formation of the keyboard cover is not limited to the mold formation, and any formation can be applied, and the keyboard cover does not have to be three-dimensionally formed for a flat keyboard. The line may be a curved line, and not only changing the color, but also changing the type of line (line pattern, thickness, type of broken line, or a combination thereof). The keyboard cover does not need to cover the entire keyboard, and may cover a part of the key group.

The keyboard layout is not limited to the QWERTY layout or Japanese JIS kana layout, and the input language is not limited to English or Japanese, but any language such as Korean, various Chinese, German, French, etc. can do. Also, regarding the grouping, not only the well-known 50 sounds, but any plurality of characters may be grouped, or characters in different languages may be grouped. Furthermore, as for the connection between groups, not only the same language but also the connection lines of characters in different languages may be displayed.

Top view of keyboard cover Illustration when the keyboard cover is attached to the keyboard Partial explanatory diagram of the network in the group (kana) Partial explanatory diagram of the network in the group (kana) Partial explanatory diagram of the network in the group (kana) Partial explanatory diagram of the network in the group (kana) Partial explanatory diagram of the intra-group network (English characters) Partial explanatory diagram of the intra-group network (English characters) Partial explanatory diagram of network in group (English characters) Partial explanatory diagram of network between groups (kana) Partial explanatory diagram of network between groups (English characters) Enlarged view showing the parallel lines of the keyboard cover

Explanation of symbols

101 Keyboard cover 102 Connection diagram within group 103 Connection diagram between groups 201 Connection diagram of first kana group 202 Connection diagram of second kana group 203 Connection diagram of third kana group 204 Connection diagram of fourth kana group 204 Connection diagram 205 Connection diagram of fifth kana group 206 Connection diagram of sixth kana group 207 Connection diagram of seventh kana group 208 Connection diagram of eighth kana group 209 Connection diagram of ninth kana group 210 Connection diagram of ninth kana group 210 Connection diagram of ten kana groups 301 Connection diagram of first alphabet group 302 Connection diagram of second alphabet group 303 Connection diagram of third alphabet group 304 Connection diagram of fourth alphabet group 305 Connection of fifth alphabet group Diagram 306 Connection diagram of the 6th alphabet group 307 Connection diagram of the 7th alphabet group 401 Connection between the Japanese Kana groups Connection diagram between groups of the diagram 402 alphabetic

Claims (3)

A keyboard cover that covers the keyboard's operation surface. When a keyboard cover corresponding to a key used for inputting a character is called a character input equivalent part, the characters that can be input by the keyboard are divided into groups. A connection link is formed so that the character input equivalent part of a character passes through several character input equivalent parts of characters belonging to the same group, if necessary, and reaches the character input equivalent parts of all other characters belonging to the same group. Thus, the character input equivalent parts of all the characters belonging to the same group are connected to each other, and the connection link of the connection network is expressed by a line or a combination of lines, and the connection diagram is displayed. Keyboard cover characterized by that. The link connecting at least one set of the character input equivalent parts for at least two groups is an inter-group connection diagram composed of lines or combinations of lines, and the inter-group connection diagram is displayed. Item 1. The keyboard cover according to Item 1. The keyboard cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the color and / or type of at least two lines or combinations of lines are different.

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