JP2580946B2 - Key input control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device of an information processing device such as a computer and a word processor.
The present invention mainly relates to a device for performing input control when performing input from a keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional "key input control device" is as follows.
It is described in JP-A-57-111628. The "key input control device" described in this publication is a device for realizing the same function as a shift key of a mechanical typewriter with an electronic keyboard device. In this key input control device, a plurality of character keys, a shift key for designating one of two types of characters for each character key, and a character key being operated when a pressing operation or a pressing operation release of the shift key is detected. In this case, there is provided a switching signal output means for transmitting a mode switching signal immediately after the operation of the character key is completed and immediately if the character key is not operated. Furthermore, the first type of character data can be input when a mode switching signal is output by pressing the shift key, and the second type of character data is output when the mode switching signal is output by releasing the shift key. An input control unit is provided to control the input of the data.

A "keyboard input control device" described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-237709 discloses a foot switch unit for switching a key mode of a keyboard with a leg, and a keyboard and a device for converting conversion information of the foot switch. A cable to be transmitted to the main unit, a keyboard status display section arranged on the image display section to inform the operator of the current keyboard conversion state, and a keyboard mounted on the keyboard to inform the operator of the current keyboard conversion state A state display unit is provided, and a mechanism necessary for input operation to the keyboard and a mechanism for controlling the keyboard state are separated from each other, and a keyboard state display unit for displaying the state of the keyboard is provided on the image display device and the keyboard side. .

A "document editing device" described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-214423 discloses a "document editing device" in which when an input control device determines that a key input from a keyboard device is a cursor movement key code, A document editing device in which the cursor control device updates the contents of the cursor table register according to the moving direction and the moving amount of the cursor, and displays the cursor on the display device via the display control device according to various contents.
When the keyboard device presses a special character key corresponding to a special key and cursor movement and a special key between the keyboard device and the input device, the keyboard device converts the special character key into a cursor movement key code corresponding to an output signal of the specific character key. Means.

[0005]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
No. 28, “Key input control device”
In a general keyboard used for a computer terminal, a word processor, and the like, such as a "document editing device" described in JP-A-214423, shift keys, control keys, kana keys, graphic keys, function keys, character conversion keys, and the like are used. There is a problem that the size of the keyboard is limited because special keys are provided for each function, and the more keys are used, the narrower the space between character keys and special keys is, which may cause erroneous operation. In the case of a shift key or a control key, it is necessary to press a character key while keeping the state in which the key is pressed, so that there is a problem that operability is deteriorated.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 1-237709 discloses a "keyboard input control device" which is a place where an operator of the input device can be seated on a chair or the like in order to switch the key mode of the keyboard with his / her legs. It is difficult to use it unless there is a place to install a switch, and since a foot switch is required in addition to a normal keyboard, the configuration of the input device becomes large, which causes a problem that the production cost is increased. .

An object of the present invention is to provide a key input control device which solves such a problem.

[0008]

A key input control device according to the present invention includes an input mode selection key used to select an input mode, an information processing device to be operated, and application software operating on the information processing device. A key code memory unit that stores all key codes necessary for the key mode, and a key code that is stored in the key code memory unit corresponding to the pressing time and the number of times the input mode selection key is pressed.
An input mode memory unit that stores an input mode selected in a predetermined group and stores the input mode selection key, and analyzes the pressing time and the number of presses of the input mode selection key, calls the input mode from the input mode memory unit, and controls the key code. An input mode control unit for notifying the display unit and a mode display control unit, an input mode display unit for displaying a current input mode, and a display control unit for controlling display processing of the input mode display unit. Each time a key code is transferred to the unit, the key code control unit analyzes the received key code and calls the appropriate key code from the key code memory unit according to the input mode specified by the input mode control unit. The data transfer unit transfers the key code to the information processing apparatus.

[0009]

Next, a key input control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a key input control device according to the present invention. This key input control device includes a keyboard 11, a mode display control unit 15, an input control unit 16, and a data transfer unit.

The keyboard 11 has an input mode selection key 1
2, an input mode display section 13, and character input keys 14. Further, the input control unit 16 includes an input mode control unit 161, an input mode memory unit 162, a key code control unit 163, and a key code memory unit 164.

An input mode selection key 12 is used to select an input mode. The input mode can be selected by switching the mode depending on the pressing time and the number of times of pressing.

The input mode display section 13 displays the current input mode.

The mode display control unit 15 controls display processing of the input mode display unit 13.

The input mode control unit 161 analyzes the pressing time and the number of times the input mode selection key 12 is pressed, and calls the input mode from the input mode memory unit 162,
The key code control unit 163 and the mode display control unit 15 are notified.

The input mode memory unit 162 stores the key code stored in the key code memory unit 164 in accordance with the pressing time and the number of times the input mode selection key 12 is pressed.
For example, uppercase letters, lowercase letters,
The input mode is divided into groups such as Japanese uppercase letters, Japanese lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, and the like, and is stored.

The key code control section 163 analyzes the received key code, calls an appropriate key code corresponding to the input mode instructed by the input mode control section 161 from the key code memory section 164, and calls the data transfer section 17 Pass to.

The key code memory section 164 stores all key codes necessary for an information processing apparatus to be operated and application software operating on the information processing apparatus.

The data transfer unit 17 transfers the key code called from the key code memory unit 164 to the information processing device.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. With the character input keys 14, one key code is output from one key regardless of the input mode. The key code memory unit 16 in the input control unit 16
4 stores all key codes necessary for an information processing apparatus to be operated and application software operating on the information processing apparatus.
The key code stored in the key code memory unit 164 is stored in the key code memory unit 164 in correspondence with the pressing time and the number of times the input mode selection key 12 is pressed. Input modes determined by groups such as numbers and symbols are stored.

When the input mode selection key 12 is pressed, the input mode control section 161 causes the input mode selection key 1
The input mode is analyzed from the input mode memory unit 162 by analyzing the pressing time and the number of times of pressing the key 2, and the key mode control unit 163 and the mode display control unit 15 are notified. Then, the display control unit 15 displays the current input mode on the input mode display unit 13. Thereafter, each time a key code is transferred from the character key to the input control unit 16, the key code received by the key code control unit 163 is analyzed, and an appropriate key code corresponding to the input mode specified by the input mode control unit 161 is obtained. The key code is called from the key code memory unit 164 and passed to the data transfer unit 17. And the data transfer unit 17
Transfers the key code to the information processing device.

Further, an actual operation example of the input mode selection will be described below. Here, as an example, five input modes M
1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 are defined. Then, a key code that is actually transferred to the information processing device and that corresponds to a key code from all character keys is assigned to each mode. As the initial mode, the most frequently used lowercase alphabet mode is set, and this mode is set by default. Then, while the input device is being used in an arbitrary input mode, the input mode selection key 12 can be continuously pressed for n seconds or more to return to the initial mode. Although the value of n is not particularly defined here, it is preferably about 2 seconds in view of the man-machine interface.
On the other hand, by inputting the input mode selection key 12 one time in a discontinuous manner within a fixed time n seconds, the input mode is changed to “M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M1, M2,.
・ ”Is set periodically. The set input mode can be confirmed on the input mode display unit 13.

[0023]

As described above, according to the key input control device of the present invention, a plurality of special keys used in the prior art are limited to one key called an input mode selection key, and the number of times the key is pressed is reduced. And a function to switch between multiple input modes depending on the pressing time.Every time a key code is transferred from the keyboard, it analyzes the key code and outputs an appropriate key code according to the set input mode. By reducing the number of input keys on the keyboard, the size of the keyboard itself can be reduced, the portability can be improved, and the price can be reduced, and the operability during input processing can be improved by reducing the number of input keys. This has the effect that erroneous operation can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a key input control device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Keyboard 12 Input mode selection key 13 Input mode display part 14 Character input key 15 Display control part 16 Input control part 17 Data transfer part 161 Input mode control part 162 Input mode memory part 163 Key code control part 164 Key code memory part

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An input mode selection key used to select an input mode, and a key code storing all key codes required for an information processing apparatus to be operated and application software operating on the information processing apparatus A memory unit, and an input mode memory unit that stores the key codes stored in the key code memory unit corresponding to the pressing time and the number of times of pressing the input mode selection key in a predetermined input mode in a predetermined group. And an input mode control unit that analyzes the pressing time and the number of times the input mode selection key is pressed, calls the input mode from the input mode memory unit, and notifies the key code control unit and the mode display control unit, and the current input mode. And an input mode display unit for displaying a display, and a display control unit for controlling display processing of the input mode display unit. Each time a key code is transferred to the input control unit, the key code control unit analyzes the received key code and stores an appropriate key code corresponding to the input mode specified by the input mode control unit in the key code memory unit. A key input control device, wherein the key code is transferred to a data transfer unit, and the data transfer unit transfers the key code to the information processing device.