JP2933555B2 - Key code masking equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a key code masking device, and more particularly to a key code masking device for arbitrarily masking a key function assigned to each key of a keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for disabling the function of a specific key on a keyboard, there is a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-210286, entitled "Keyboard Masking Method".

That is, in a computer having a keyboard, a storage device in a main unit of the computer is provided with a table for designating key functions to be invalidated among key functions of the keyboard, and each time a key of the keyboard is operated, The key information generated from the keyboard is checked to see if it is the key information of the key function instructed to be invalid in the table, and if the key information is invalidated, the key information is masked.

[0004]

In the conventional method, the first problem is that a key must be used when changing a mask condition of a key, such as interruption or termination of a mask function. In some cases, a mask could not be masked and a key that was not masked was operated by mistake.

[0005] The reason is that not all keys for which masking is desired can always be specified.

A second problem is that since the mask is controlled by a program on the computer main body, it must be operated at the same time as a program that uses masked data.

The reason is that the programs must have a close relationship with each other by exchanging data between the programs and allocating the display on the display. Because it is difficult.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for using a computer on a keyboard by using software.
There are many cases where the functions of some keys are not used at all, and if such keys are operated carelessly, erroneous processing may occur. An object of the present invention is to provide a key code masking device which can be invalidated and can be used in combination with an arbitrary program operating on the main body.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a key code masking device, comprising: a switch for switching between execution and non-execution of mask control; and when the switch performs mask control, inputs data from a keyboard. A serial input unit for extracting the code and key press / release information and sending the information to the microprocessor, a storage unit for storing a code to be masked, and a code for masking or not to be masked in the storage unit and the serial input unit. A microprocessor for comparing and collating the codes of the keys and processing as a composite code while the control key is being pressed, and a serial output unit for sending a non-masked code to the computer body, Is provided.

[Operation] In order to interrupt or end the masking process, it is sufficient to turn off the switch, so that any specified key can be unconditionally masked. Further, since the functions on the main body are not used at all for controlling the mask, there is no problem in the operation of the programs and the like on the main body side. Further, the operation of the main body side does not affect the mask device of the key code of the present invention.

[0011]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a key code masking apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an asynchronous serial input unit 2, a switch 5, a RAM 6 of a random access memory, a ROM 7 of a read-only memory, and an asynchronous serial output unit 8 are connected to an MPU 3 which is a microprocessor.

The asynchronous serial input unit 2 is connected to a keyboard (not shown) via the input terminal 1.
The key code is received from the keyboard and passed to MPU3.

The code of the key to be masked is stored in the RAM 6 in advance. The MPU 3 inputs ON / OFF of the switch 5 with a logical value and determines the state. When the switch 5 is on, the MPU 3 compares the code of the key received from the asynchronous serial input unit 2 with the code of the key to be masked in the RAM 6, and if the code does not match any code, outputs the code to the asynchronous serial output. Hand over to part 8. The asynchronous serial output unit 8 edits the format of transmission to the main unit,
It is sent to the main unit via the output terminal 9. If they match, no code is sent to the asynchronous serial output unit 8, so that the key code can be masked.

When the switch 5 is off, the MPU 3
The key code input above and the key code to be masked are not compared and collated, and are passed to the asynchronous serial output unit 8 as they are, so that they are not masked.

Asynchronous serial input unit 2 from keyboard
And the transfer format of the key code from the asynchronous serial output unit 8 to the main unit is transferred in units of 11-bit blocks. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a key code transfer format of the key code masking device of the present invention.

The start of the block is a start bit 21 of one bit. Next, the data bit string 22 continues for 8 bits. The data bit string 22 is a 7-bit (D0 to D6) code 26 unique to each key and a press / indicate key operation.
It is composed of one bit (D7) of the release bit 25.

In the press / release bit 25, when a key is operated with the keyboard, "0" is entered when the key is pressed and "1" is entered when the key is released. That is, the code is sent from the keyboard twice when the key is pressed and when the key is released.

Next, the parity bit 23 is sent. The parity bit 23 contains the value of the result of the parity operation of the data bit string 22.

Finally, a stop bit 24 comes.

The asynchronous serial input unit 2 extracts only the data bit string 22 of each block and transfers it to the MPU 3.

The keys are classified into alphabets, numbers, kana, symbols, and functions. Alphabetic characters are AZ and az. Number is 0
9 Kana is a to a. The symbols are #,% =, <etc. Function is return key, TAB, BS, IN
S, CLS, SHIFT, →, F1 to F10, and the like.
Of these, the control key (CTRL), shift key (SHIFT), and graph key (GRPH) do not function by themselves, but are always used in combination with other keys. Keys used in combination with other keys, such as CTRL, SHIFT, and GRPH, are called control keys. The code transmitted by pressing the control key is called a control code here.

The codes of function keys other than alphabetic characters, numerals, kana, symbols, and control keys are collectively referred to herein as character codes. When a single key is hit, a block of code data sent from the keyboard is sent twice: when the key is pressed and when the key is released.

In the case of a composite key, for example, a shift key and 3
Are hit at the same time, it is regarded as # and 3 represents a different character. In this case, the blocks of the code sent from the keyboard are arranged in order by the code of the shift key for pressing, the key of 3 for pressing, the key of 3 for releasing, and the code of the shifting key for releasing.

Next, when the switch 5 is turned on, the MPU 3
FIG. 3 shows a processing method of a mask processing program that operates on the above.
The operation of an embodiment of the key code masking apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart.

When the data bit string 22 of the key code arrives at the MPU 3, the program proceeds from in (step 31), checks the press / release bit 25, and determines whether the code is a press code (step 32). If the / release bit 25 is “0”, it is regarded that the button is pressed and “CTRL or not”
Proceeding to (Step 33), if it is "1", it is regarded as release and proceed to "CTRL or not" (Step 51).

In the case of "CTRL or not" (step 33), if the key code 26 is a CTRL code, the CTRL code is stored in "control code storage" (step 41) and "control code exists" (step 43). ) Is set.

If the code is not a CTRL code, "GRP
H? "(Step 34), and the key code 26
If RPH, "control code storage" (step 41)
To store the GRPH, and “control code exists” (step 4
Set 3).

If the key code is not GRPH,
Proceeding to "SHIFT?" (Step 35), if the key code 26 is SHIFT, store the SHIFT in "control code storage" (step 41) and "control code exists".
(Step 43) is set.

After setting "control code present" (step 43), the code is transmitted to the main unit via the asynchronous serial output unit 8 by "send to main unit" (step 38), and the output reaches (step 39). .

If the code is not a SHIFT code, the flow advances to "whether there is a control code" (step 36). If there is a control code to be pressed before, it is set in the "set with control code" (step 43).

The "set / reset" state is checked in "whether there is a control code" (step 36). If there is no control code, it is regarded as a character code of a single key.
Is compared with all of the codes of the single key to be masked stored in.

In any case, if they do not match, the code is sent to the main body in "Send to main body" (step 38), and the process proceeds to out (step 39). If there is a match, it is regarded as a code to be masked, and it is output without sending (step 3
Proceed to 9).

"Does control code exist" (step 36)
If yes, the process proceeds to "Does the mask code match with control code?" (Step 42). The code of the mask of the composite key is stored in the RAM 6 in advance. The code of the mask of the composite key is composed of a set of a control code and a character code. First, if the control code stored in the "control code storage" (step 41) does not match the control code to be masked, the mask is not masked.
Send the received character code to the main unit (step 38)
Then, it is sent to the main body and reaches out (step 39).

If the control code matches the control code to be masked, the character code is further compared and collated. If they do not match,
Without masking, the received character code is sent to the main body by "send to main body" (step 38), and reaches out (step 39).

On the other hand, if there is a match in the comparison of the character codes, masking is performed, so that no code is sent out and the process goes out (step 39). “Is the code for pressing down” (Step 3
In 2), if the press / release bit 25 is “1”, “C”
TRL or "(step 51), and code 26 is CT
If it is an RL code, go to "Reset with control code" (step 55).

If it is not a CTRL code, "GRPH
(Step 52). If it is a GRPH code, go to "Reset with control code" (Step 55). If it is not a GRPH code, go to "SHIFT?" (Step 53).

If the code is a SHIFT code, the procedure goes to "reset with control code" (step 55). SHIFT
If it is not the code, “Send when pressed” (step 5
Proceed to 4). Here, it is checked whether or not the code is masked at the time of pressing, and if not masked, the process proceeds to "Send to main body" (step 38), and the code is sent out (step 39).

If it is masked at the time of pressing, the process goes out (step 39), and masking is performed. On the other hand, in the case of proceeding to "reset with control code" (step 55), the control code is set to the preset state, that is, there is no control code.

The code is sent to the main unit by "send to main unit" (step 38), and the process goes out (step 39). In the above-described embodiment, the key code to be masked is stored in the RAM 6, but may be the ROM 7.
Further, in the embodiment, the code to be masked is set as a target of comparison and collation. However, a code which is not masked may be stored and compared with this to determine whether or not to mask.

Further, in the embodiment, the CTRL key,
Although the GRPH key and the SHIFT key are used as control keys, the present invention is not limited to this, and keys that function as composite keys can be used as control keys. Further, in the embodiment, the composite key has been described with two keys, but even with three or more keys,
Similarly, mask processing is possible.

The code to be masked in the RAM 6 may be compared and compared as a combination of three or more codes constituting the code of the composite key. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the asynchronous serial input unit 2 and the asynchronous serial output unit 8
As described above, an input unit and an output unit using a synchronous transfer method are also possible. Furthermore, in the embodiment, when the switch is turned off, a program that is not masked on the MPU 3 is operated to pass through the asynchronous serial input unit 2, the MPU 3, and the asynchronous serial output unit 8. By connecting from the input terminal 1 to the output terminal 9, the same effect can be obtained.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the code to be masked is transmitted from the asynchronous serial output unit 8. However, the same effect can be obtained by converting this to a code regarded as invalid on the computer body side and transmitting it. .

[0045]

As explained above, the first effect of the key code masking device of the present invention is that a mask can be arbitrarily designated for all keys.

The reason is that the key is not used because whether or not to mask can be switched by a switch instead of the key.

The second effect is that mask processing can be completely separated from the operation of the main program.

The reason for this is that the mask processing is performed exclusively using the MPU, so that it is not involved in the program operation of the main unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a key code masking apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a key code transfer format of the key code masking device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the key code masking apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input terminal 2 Asynchronous serial input part 3 MPU 5 Switch 6 RAM 7 ROM 8 Asynchronous serial output part 9 Output terminal 21 Start bit 22 Data bit string 23 Parity bit 24 Stop bit 25 Press / release bit 26 Code

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A switch for switching between execution and non-execution of mask control, and when the switch executes mask control, inputs data from a keyboard, and extracts key codes and information on key presses and releases, A serial input unit to be sent to the microprocessor, a storage unit for storing a code to be masked, a code to be masked in the storage unit is compared with a key code from the serial input unit, and the control key is pressed. A key code masking device, comprising: a microprocessor for determining whether or not to mask by processing a space between the codes as a composite code; and a serial output unit for sending a code not to be masked to a computer main body. 2. A switch for switching between execution and non-execution of mask control, and when the switch executes mask control, inputs data from a keyboard, and extracts key codes and information on key presses and releases, A serial input unit to be sent to the microprocessor, a storage unit for storing a code to be unmasked, a code for unmasked in the storage unit and a key code from the serial input unit are compared and collated. A key code masking device, comprising: a microprocessor that determines whether or not to mask by processing as a composite code; and a serial output unit that sends a code not to be masked to a computer main body. 3. When the mask function is executed, a switch is turned on to execute a mask processing program stored in a storage unit, a key code from a keyboard is received by a serial input unit, and the MPU stores the key code in the storage unit. Compare and collate with a code to be masked, and if they match, do not send the key code to the outside via the serial output unit.If they do not match, send the key code to the outside via the serial output unit. A key code masking device characterized in that when a mask function is stopped, a mask processing program is halted by turning off a switch to allow all codes received from a keyboard to pass.