JP2010026709A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the efficiency of data input. <P>SOLUTION: Out of a plurality of keys, on the upper surface of a key 2 with a touch sensor, a touch sensor 3 which detects contacting of a finger is provided. When the key 2 is pressed down, a corresponding figure or character is input, and when it is made to contact the touch sensor 3, a pointer and the like displayed on a monitor 60 is scrolled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard with improved data input efficiency.

  Conventionally, a keyboard and a mouse are used to input various data by operating a computer or the like. Since the keyboard and mouse are separate bodies, the right hand may change depending on the input work. In such a case, the data input efficiency decreases due to the complicated movement of the right hand.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 greatly increases the efficiency of data input by incorporating control devices having a mouse function on the left and upper sides of the numeric keypad on the keyboard used when operating the computer to input various data. An improved keyboard with a mouse function is disclosed. According to this, the complicated movement of the right hand, which is caused by using the conventional keyboard together with the keyboard and the conventional mouse, can be suppressed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that all illustrations and numerical values are input by moving a mouse, operating a numeric keypad and / or a mouse function key provided on the mouse, operating a changeover switch, and starting an image scanner scan. A mouse is disclosed in which the efficiency of the input operation is improved by performing only the operation of the switch. According to this, it is possible to input illustrations and numerical values only by moving the mouse and operating the switch.

JP 2005-63395 A JP-A-6-131115

  However, in Patent Document 1, the keyboard and the mouse are located at different positions, and in Patent Document 2, the parts other than the numeric keypad are located at positions different from the mouse. For this reason, there is a limit in improving the efficiency of data input operations.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard capable of improving the efficiency of data input.

Means and effects for solving the problems

  The keyboard of the present invention is a keyboard having a plurality of keys to be pressed by a finger, provided on the upper surface of at least some of the keys, respectively, a touch sensor for detecting the touch of the finger, and when each key is pressed, Press signal output means for outputting a press signal corresponding to the pressed key, and sensing that outputs a sensing signal corresponding to the touch sensor that senses the touch of the finger when each touch sensor senses the touch of the finger. And a signal output means.

  According to the above configuration, since the touch sensor that senses the touch of a finger is provided on the upper surface of at least some of the keys, when the key is pressed, a corresponding number or character is input, and the touch sensor When touched, the pointer or the like displayed on the monitor can be scrolled. As a result, it is difficult for the right hand to switch between the keyboard and the mouse, and complicated movement of the right hand can be suppressed, so that the efficiency of data input can be improved.

  In the keyboard of the present invention, the touch sensor has a contact surface with which the finger is brought into contact, and the contact surface is partially formed in a non-flat shape, and all except the part is formed in a flat shape. It may be formed. According to the above configuration, a part of the contact surface of the touch sensor is formed to be non-flat, and all but part of the contact surface is formed to be flat. The user can easily determine the key provided with the touch sensor by touching the non-flat portion.

  The keyboard of the present invention may further include setting means for setting a key to which the sensing signal is output by the sensing signal output means among the keys provided with the touch sensor. According to the above configuration, since the key that enables the touch sensor can be set by the setting means, the data input efficiency can be further improved by setting the key to the user's preference.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Configuration of keyboard 10)
The keyboard 10 according to the present embodiment is connected to a PC 50 as shown in FIG. A monitor 60 is connected to the PC 50. It is assumed that the bookkeeping / accounting software is activated on the PC 50.

  The keyboard 10 has a plurality of keys. A touch sensor 3 that senses the touch of a finger is provided on the top surface of some of the plurality of keys. Hereinafter, a key without the touch sensor 3 is referred to as a normal key 1 (hereinafter referred to as a key 1), and a key with the touch sensor 3 is referred to as a key 2 with a touch sensor.

  Each key 1 is pressed with a finger, and when the key 1 is pressed, a corresponding number, character, or the like is input to the bookkeeping / accounting software.

  Each key 2 with a touch sensor is displayed on the monitor 60 when the touch sensor 3 is touched with a finger while a corresponding number or character is input to the bookkeeping / accounting software when pressed with a finger. A pointer or the like is scrolled.

  Thus, when the touch-sensitive key 2 is pressed with a finger, the corresponding numbers or characters are input to the bookkeeping / accounting software, and when the touch sensor 3 of the touch-sensitive key 2 is touched with the finger, the monitor The pointer displayed at 60 is scrolled. This makes it difficult for the right hand to change the keyboard 10 and mouse, and the complicated movement of the right hand can be suppressed, so that the efficiency of data input can be improved.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the touch sensor 3 in each key 2 with a touch sensor has a contact surface 13 that comes into contact with a finger, and the contact surface 13 has a protrusion 14 in the center, and a part thereof. It is formed in a non-flat shape, and all but a part is formed in a flat shape. Note that a part of the contact surface 13 may be formed non-flat due to unevenness or the like.

  Thus, since the contact surface 13 in the touch sensor 3 has the protrusion 14 at the center, a part of the contact surface 13 is formed in a non-flat shape, and a part other than the part is formed in a flat shape. The user can easily determine the key 2 with the touch sensor provided with the touch sensor 3 by touching the protrusion 14 with the finger.

  The keyboard 10 includes a setting switch 4, an R key 5, and an L key 6. Hereinafter, the key 1, the key with touch sensor 2, the R key 5, and the L key 6 are collectively referred to as keys 1, 2, 5, and 6.

  The setting switch 4 is used to set the four touch sensor-equipped keys 2 that are effective for the touch sensor 3 among the plurality of keys 2 with the touch sensor. Specifically, when the setting switch 4 is set to 1, the touch sensors 3 of the numeric keys “2”, “4”, “6”, “8” are activated among the plurality of keys 2 with touch sensors. Is done. Further, when the setting switch 4 is set to the setting 2, the touch sensors 3 of “√”, “GT”, “tax excluded”, and “CM” among the plurality of keys 2 with touch sensors are validated. When the setting switch 4 is set to setting 3, among the plurality of keys 2 with touch sensors, the touch sensors 3 of the ten keys “00”, “1”, “3”, and “5” are activated. Note that the four touch sensor-equipped keys 2 for enabling the touch sensor 3 may be other than the above keys. Further, the number of keys 2 with a touch sensor for enabling the touch sensor 3 is not limited to four, and may be one, two, or eight.

  As described above, the setting switch 4 can set the four keys 2 with the touch sensor that enable the touch sensor 3, so that the data input efficiency can be further improved by setting the preference of the user. Can do.

  The R key 5 plays the role of a right mouse click, and the L key 6 plays the role of a left mouse click. The R key 5 and the L key 6 are pressed with a finger, and when pressed, the same operations as a right click and a left click are performed.

  This makes it difficult for the right hand to change the keyboard 10 and mouse, and the complicated movement of the right hand can be suppressed, so that the efficiency of data input can be improved.

  Further, the key 1 and the key 2 with the touch sensor in the keyboard 10 include a bookkeeping / accounting key 7 similar to that provided in the bookkeeping / accounting calculator. Specifically, the bookkeeping / accounting key 7 is “tax included”, “tax excluded”, “00” or the like. When the bookkeeping / accounting key 7 is pressed with a finger, a corresponding number, character, or the like is input to the bookkeeping / accounting software.

  In this way, when the bookkeeping / accounting key 7 is pressed with a finger, the corresponding numbers or characters are input to the bookkeeping / accounting software. Thereby, bookkeeping and accounting work can be performed smoothly.

(Electrical configuration of the keyboard 10)
As shown in FIG. 3, the keyboard 10 includes an IC 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a signal output unit 24, and an input interface 25.

  A ROM 22 and a RAM 23 are connected to the IC 21. The RAM 23 stores one of the settings 1 to 3 that are the settings in the setting switch 4. The ROM 22 stores four keys 2 with a touch sensor corresponding to each of the settings 1 to 3 in the setting switch 4. Specifically, the ROM 22 includes ten keys “2”, “4”, “6”, “6” as four keys 2 with touch sensors that enable the touch sensor 3 when the setting switch 4 is set to “1”. 8 ”is stored. In addition, “√”, “GT”, “tax excluded”, and “CM” are stored as the four touch sensor keys 2 that enable the touch sensor 3 when the setting switch 4 is set to 2. Yes. Also, ten keys “00”, “1”, “3”, “5” are stored as the four touch sensor-equipped keys 2 that enable the touch sensor 3 when the setting switch 4 is set to “3”. Yes.

  Further, a signal output unit 24 is connected to the IC 21. The signal output unit 24 outputs a pressing signal corresponding to the pressed key 1, 2, 5, 6 output from the IC 21 serving as a pressing signal output unit and a sensing signal output unit, and a detection corresponding to the valid touch sensor 3. The signal is output to the PC 50.

  Key switches 31a, 31b,... Corresponding to the keys 1, 2, 5, 6 are connected to the input interface 25. The input interface 25 receives signals from the key switches 31a, 31b,.

  In addition, touch sensors 3 a, 3 b,... Provided on each touch sensor key 2 are connected to the input interface 25. The input interface 25 receives signals from the touch sensors 3a, 3b,.

  The setting switch 4 is connected to the input interface 25. A signal related to a set value from the setting switch 4 is input to the input interface 25.

(Operation of keyboard 10)
In the above configuration, the operation of the keyboard 10 will be described with reference to the input processing routine shown in FIG. 4 and the valid key setting routine shown in FIG.

(Input processing routine)
When the input processing routine is executed, as shown in FIG. 4, the IC 21 determines whether any one of the keys 1, 2, 5, 6 is pressed (S1).

  When it is determined that the keys 1, 2, 5, 6 are pressed with a finger (S1: YES), a corresponding pressing signal is output from the signal output unit 24 (S2). As a result, the corresponding numbers and letters are input to the bookkeeping / accounting software. On the other hand, when it is determined that the keys 1, 2, 5, and 6 are not pressed (S1: NO), or after step S2, it is determined whether or not the touch sensor 3 senses a finger contact (S3). ).

  If it is determined that the touch sensor 3 is not sensing (the finger is not touching the touch sensor) (S3: NO), the process returns to S1. On the other hand, when it is determined that the touch sensor 3 senses (a finger touches the touch sensor) (S3: YES), it is determined whether or not the touch sensor 3 is valid (S4).

  When it determines with the touch sensor 3 not being effective (S4: NO), it returns to S1. On the other hand, when it determines with the touch sensor 3 being effective (S4: YES), a corresponding sensing signal is output from the signal output part 24 (S5), and it returns to S1. As a result, the pointer displayed on the monitor 60 is moved.

  Thus, when the touch-sensitive key 2 is pressed with a finger, the corresponding numbers or characters are input to the bookkeeping / accounting software, and when the touch sensor 3 of the touch-sensitive key 2 is touched with the finger, the monitor The pointer displayed at 60 is scrolled. This makes it difficult for the right hand to change the keyboard 10 and mouse, and the complicated movement of the right hand can be suppressed, so that the efficiency of data input can be improved.

  In addition, the contact surface 13 of the touch sensor 3 has a protrusion 14 at the center, so that a part of the contact surface 13 is formed non-flat and a part of the contact surface 13 except for a part is formed flat. Further, the user can easily determine the key 2 with the touch sensor provided with the touch sensor 3 by the contact with the protrusion 14.

(Valid key setting routine)
When the valid key setting routine is executed, the ROM 22 determines whether or not the setting switch 4 is set to 1 as shown in FIG. 5 (A1).

  When it is determined that the setting of the setting switch 4 is setting 1 (A1: YES), the ten keys “2”, “4”, “6”, “8” are used as the four touch sensor-equipped keys 2 in which the touch sensor 3 is valid. "Is selected (A2), and the process returns to A1. On the other hand, when it is determined that the setting switch 4 is not set 1 (A1: NO), it is determined whether the setting switch 4 is set 2 (A3).

  When it is determined that the setting of the setting switch 4 is setting 2 (A3: YES), “√”, “GT”, “tax-excluded”, “CM” are used as the four touch sensor-equipped keys 2 in which the touch sensor 3 is valid. "Is selected (A4), and the process returns to A1. On the other hand, when it is determined that the setting of the setting switch 4 is not setting 2 (A3: NO), it is determined that the setting of the setting switch 4 is setting 3, and the touch sensor 3 is valid as the four keys 2 with touch sensor. The numeric keys “00”, “1”, “3”, “5” are selected (A5), and the process returns to A1.

  As described above, the setting switch 4 can set the four keys 2 with the touch sensor that enable the touch sensor 3, so that the data input efficiency can be further improved by setting the preference of the user. Can do.

(Outline of this embodiment)
As described above, the keyboard 10 according to the present embodiment includes at least some of the keys (key 2 with touch sensor, etc.) in the keyboard 10 having a plurality of keys (key 1, key 2 with touch sensor, etc.) to be pressed with a finger. ) And a touch sensor 3 for detecting the touch of a finger, and a press signal output means (IC21, signal output unit) that outputs a press signal corresponding to the pressed key when each key is pressed. 24, the input processing routine of FIG. 4 and the like, and when each touch sensor 3 senses a finger contact, a sensing signal output means (IC21, IC21, which outputs a sensing signal corresponding to the touch sensor 3 that senses the finger contact The signal output unit 24, the input processing routine of FIG. 4, and the like).

  According to the above configuration, since the touch sensor 3 that senses the touch of a finger is provided on the upper surface of at least some of the keys, when the key is pressed, a corresponding number or character is input and touched. When the sensor 3 is touched, the pointer displayed on the monitor 60 can be scrolled. This makes it difficult for the right hand to change the keyboard 10 and mouse, and the complicated movement of the right hand can be suppressed, so that the efficiency of data input can be improved.

  Moreover, in the keyboard 10 of this Embodiment, the touch sensor 3 has the contact surface 13 with which a finger | toe is contacted, and the contact surface 13 is partially formed in non-flat shape, and flat except for one part is flat. It is made the structure formed in a shape. According to the above configuration, part of the contact surface 13 of the touch sensor 3 is formed in a non-flat shape, and all of the contact surface 13 except for a part is formed in a flat shape. In addition, the user can easily determine the key on which the touch sensor 3 is provided by touching a non-flat portion.

  Further, in the keyboard 10 of the present embodiment, among the keys provided with the touch sensor 3 (key 2 with a touch sensor, etc.), setting means (setting switch) for setting a key for outputting a sensing signal by the sensing signal output means 4, IC 21, effective touch sensor setting routine of FIG. 5, etc.). According to the above configuration, since the key for enabling the touch sensor 3 can be set by the setting means, the data input efficiency can be further improved by setting the user's preference.

(Modification of this embodiment)
The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but only specific examples have been illustrated, and the present invention is not particularly limited. Specific configurations and the like can be appropriately changed in design. Further, the actions and effects described in the embodiments of the invention only list the most preferable actions and effects resulting from the present invention, and the actions and effects according to the present invention are described in the embodiments of the present invention. It is not limited to what was done.

  For example, in this embodiment, the key 2 with touch sensor is configured to be provided on the right hand side of the keyboard 10, but is not limited to this configuration, and the key with touch sensor is provided on the left hand side of the keyboard 10. 2 may be provided. In this case, the right hand can concentrate on pressing the numeric keypad, and the left-handed user can easily handle the touch sensor 3, so that the data input efficiency can be further improved.

  In addition, the R key 5 that plays the role of right-clicking the mouse, the L key 6 that plays the role of left-clicking, and the bookkeeping / accounting key 7 are arranged on the right-hand side of the keyboard 10, It is not limited to this configuration, but may be configured to be provided on the left hand side of the keyboard 10. In this case, it is difficult for the right hand to change the keyboard 10 and mouse, the complicated movement of the right hand is suppressed, and the left-handed user is easy to handle. Input efficiency can be improved.

FIG. The block diagram of a key with a touch sensor. Diagram showing the electrical configuration of the keyboard The figure which shows an input processing routine. The figure which shows an effective key setting routine.

Explanation of symbols

1 key 2 key with touch sensor 3 touch sensor 10 keyboard 21 IC
24 Signal output section

Claims (3)

In a keyboard having a plurality of keys pressed by a finger,
A touch sensor that is provided on an upper surface of at least a part of the keys and senses contact of the finger;
A pressing signal output means for outputting a pressing signal corresponding to the pressed key when each key is pressed;
Sensing signal output means for outputting a sensing signal corresponding to the touch sensor that senses the finger contact when each touch sensor senses the finger contact;
A keyboard characterized by comprising: The touch sensor has a contact surface with which the finger is contacted,
2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein a part of the contact surface is formed to be non-flat, and a part other than the part is formed to be flat. 3. The keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to set a key to which the detection signal is output by the detection signal output unit among keys provided with the touch sensor.

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