JP3224241B2 - Information input device and method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information input device and a method for inputting information using keys.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a keyboard input device used in an information processing apparatus such as a word processor, when an operator presses a key, an identification code signal corresponding to the key is generated. The word processor inputs information by converting the identification code signal into a character code signal or a control code signal used by the word processor.

Since the key arrangement space of the keyboard input device is limited, there has been proposed an information input device in which input means called a virtual keyboard is provided in the keyboard input device, and a certain number of keys are used to input information more than the number of keys. ing.

In a virtual keyboard, for example, first character information and second character information are assigned to one key in advance in correspondence with the first and second types of input modes. When the input mode setting key sets the first input mode, the word processor converts the key generated identification code signal into a first character code signal.
When the input mode setting key sets the second input mode, the identification code signal generated by the key is converted into a second character code signal.

For this reason, by switching the mode on the keyboard side, it has become possible to input information twice as many as the number of keys provided to the word processor.

[0006]

However, in the conventional information input device in which two types of information are input with one key by mode switching, the correspondence between the key and the two types of input information (code) is fixed in advance. Therefore, once this relationship is determined, it cannot be changed.

For this reason, it is necessary to switch modes in order to use frequently used keys on a virtual keyboard, and there is still room for improvement in keyboard operability.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information input device and method capable of further improving key operability in view of the above points.

[0009]

In order to achieve such an object, the apparatus of the present invention converts a first key code signal into a plurality of second key code signals indicating functions executed by a plurality of information processing apparatuses. Registration means for registering conversion information for conversion in the storage means; and when the first key code signal is generated by operating a key, the first key code signal is generated based on the conversion information registered by the registration means. Is converted into a plurality of second key code signals indicating functions executed by the plurality of information processing apparatuses, and the converted plurality of second key code signals indicating functions executed by the plurality of information processing apparatuses are converted into the information. Signal conversion means for inputting to the processing device.

The method of the present invention includes a registration step of registering conversion information for converting a first key code signal into a plurality of second key code signals indicating functions executed by a plurality of information processing devices in a storage means; When the first key code signal is generated by an operation of a key, the first key code signal is generated based on the conversion information registered in the registration step. Converting a plurality of second key code signals into a second key code signal and inputting the plurality of second key code signals indicating functions executed by the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the information processing apparatus. .

[0011]

According to the present invention, the instruction contents of functions executed by a plurality of information processing devices are registered in one key, and one key is pressed. Thus, functions executed by a plurality of information processing devices can be input, and the operability of keys is improved.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

The information input device according to the present embodiment inputs an information previously assigned to the first key code signal by inputting a first key code signal generated by operating a key to the information processing device. Device.

[0015] 1000 is 1 from the first key code signal.
This is registration means for registering conversion information for conversion into the second key code signal.

1100 converts the first key code signal generated by operating the key into the one or more second key code signals based on the registered conversion information, and converts the converted second key code signal into the one or more second key code signals. Signal conversion means for input to the information processing device.

In this information input device, information previously assigned to the second key code signal is input by inputting the second key code signal to the information processing device.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a circuit configuration of a word processor to which the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a RAM (Readable / Writable Memory) 20, an RO
M (read only memory) 30, KB (keyboard input device) 40, CRT (cathode ray tube display) 50, PRT
A (printer) 60 and a DISK (external storage device) 70 are commonly connected to a bus line BL.

The ROM 30 stores a program PROG for converting a key code and identifying the converted key code.

The RAM 20 is provided with a dedicated area for storing a key table TBL defined by a user and an execution table (to be described later) JTBL. The DISK stores the document information created by the user and the key table TBL.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the key arrangement of the keyboard 40 shown in FIG.

Each key on the keyboard input device 40 generates a different key code signal when pressed.

The numerical value indicated by the generated key code signal is:
The information is identified by the CPU 10 and is handled as input of information (character information, numerical information, character processing instructions, and the like) corresponding to the identified numerical value.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the numerical value indicated by the key code and information corresponding to the numerical value.

In this embodiment, if the key contents are not changed, that is, if no change information is registered in the key table TBL, the CPU 10 operates the keyboard input device 4.
The key code signal received from 0 is identified as it is.

When changing the contents of a key instruction, the key code signal (first key code signal) received from the keyboard input device 40 is input according to the change information indicated by the key table TBL. After the conversion, the content identification is performed on the converted key code signal.

In this embodiment, the key TKEY is used to change the instruction content of the key, and the key KKEY is used to cancel (restore) the instruction content of all the changed keys. Further, it is prohibited to change the instruction contents of these keys.

The operation of the circuit of FIG. 2 for performing such processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 shows a main processing procedure executed by the CPU 10 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 9 shows a C for registering the contents of a key instruction.
The detailed procedure of the PU 10 will be described.

(1) Key registration The operator presses the key TKEY of the keyboard input device 40. In step S1, the CPU 10 generates a key code ("99" in decimal notation) of the keyboard input device 40.
Is read.

Since the change of the instruction content is prohibited for the key TKEY, this key is not registered in the key table TBL. Therefore, a negative (NO) determination is obtained as the determination result in step S3.

Then, after temporarily storing the generated key code signal of the keyboard input device 40 in the execution table JTBL, the CPU 10 identifies the content of the key code signal (steps S5 → S6). When the CPU 10 detects that the key code signal is a key code signal instructing the registration processing of the change information according to the identification result, the CPU 10
Executes the registration process of step S9.

For example, normally, a character key for inputting a character "1" is moved (function) for instructing movement of a character string.
If the operator wants to use the key as a key, the operator must first press the key of the character "1" (the key for generating the key code "1";
After pressing (see FIG. 4), a normal movement key (key generating key code "10", see FIG. 4) on the virtual keyboard is pressed.

According to the control procedure of FIG. 9, the CPU 10 detects that the key of the character "1" has been pressed in step S9.1 and confirms that the pressed key is not a registration / release key TKEY or KKEY. "1" is stored in the registered key code column of the key tail TBL as shown in FIG.

Next, the CPU 10 operates the keyboard input device 4.
At 0, the next key code "10" is stored in the changed key code column of the key table TBL (steps S9.4 → S9.5 → S9.6 in FIG. 9).

In this embodiment, it is possible to register a key operation when two or more keys are continuously pressed for one key, and thereafter, the key code of the key pressed by the operator is changed from step S9.6 to S9. ... → R9.5 is registered in the above-mentioned changed key code column by the loop processing of S9.5. When the registration key TKEY of the keyboard input device 40 is pressed, the execution procedure of the CPU 10 ends the procedure of FIG. 9 and returns to step S1 of FIG.

The CPU 10, the keyboard input device 40, and the key table TBL of the RAM 20 for performing the above processing
Operate as the registration means of the present invention.

(2) Key input processing after registration After registering a key for changing the contents of an instruction, pressing this key (for example, the key of the character "1" before change) causes the CPU
10 reads out the generated key code "1" in step S1,
Next, the key table TBL of FIG. 5 is referred to (step S2 of FIG. 8).

In the registration key code area, the key code "1"
Is registered, the CPU 10 stores it in the changed key code area of the key table TBL.
The key code "10" corresponding to the key code "1" is read. The content code corresponding to this key code "10" is read from key table TBL, and execution table JTB is read.
L (steps S3 to S5 in FIG. 8).

At this time, the CPU 10 operates as signal conversion means of the present invention.

The CPU 10 reads the content code stored in the JTBL execution table, identifies the content, and performs the information processing assigned to the key as in the prior art (step S6 in FIG. 8).

When two or more key contents are registered for one key, a loop process from step S11 to S6 is executed, and identification and information processing for all stored key codes in the execution table JTBL are performed. After finishing,
The procedure returns to step S1.

(3) Release processing of registration key When the operator presses the release key KKEY, the CPU 1
At 0, the procedure proceeds in the order of steps S2 → S3 → S5 → S6, and pressing of the release key KKEY is detected, and step S1 is performed.
At 0, the release processing is executed.

This release processing is achieved by erasing all the stored contents of the key table TBL.

(4) Key Input Processing After Cancellation of Registration When the generated key code of the keyboard input device after cancellation of registration is input to the CPU 10 in step S1, the CPU 10 performs this processing in the order of steps S2 → S3 → S5 → S6. The key code is stored in the execution table as it is, and the content is identified.
As described above, the information processing corresponding to the key code is executed according to the content identification result.

As described above, in this embodiment, when a key in which conversion information is registered in advance is pressed, the key code generated by that key is converted to another key code indicated by the conversion information, and the information processing device ( (An information processing step in the CPU 10). For this reason, the pressed key can perform the same function as when a key corresponding to the other key code is pressed.

Therefore, it is possible to substitute frequently used keys on the virtual keyboard with keys on the normal keyboard. As a result, it is not necessary to switch the mode to the virtual keyboard, which is conventionally required, and the key operation by the operator is simplified.

In addition to the present embodiment, the following example can be realized.

1) In the present embodiment, the registration process is performed by continuous key input operations. However, when there are a plurality of contents to be assigned to one key, it is easy to make an error in the key operation. It is necessary to create tables separately. Therefore, as a registration method, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a list by normal character input is created and displayed on the CRT display device 50, and it is possible to freely correct or confirm the registration here before registering. is there.

The method will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 10 shows the details of step S9 in FIG.

In the new embodiment, the operator needs to prepare the correspondence table shown in FIG. 7 in advance. The numeral "99" is entered in the last key column of the table, and the numeral "99" is entered at the end of each column of the changed key code. This is the end identification code. After the operator creates and inputs this table as a document, the table is stored in the external storage device 70 or the RAM 20 by the CPU 10. After this, the registration key TKEY
Is pressed to cause the CPU 10 to execute the control procedure of FIG.

First, the CPU 10 proceeds to step S9.
1 clears all of TBL2. Next, step S9.2
To determine the key data in the document. If the key data is "99" or "100", the keys corresponding to these key codes, the registration key TKEY and the release key KKEY cannot be used as the registration keys, and are also end codes, so that the present process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the key data is "99" or "other than 100", the flow advances to step S9.3 to store the key data in the registered key code column of the key table TBL. Then, the process proceeds to step S 9.4 to determine the contents of the converted key code input by the operator. If the input key code is "99", the flow advances to step S9.7 to advance the key data pointer, and prepares to move to the next column, and returns to step S9.2 again.

On the other hand, if the input key code is not "99", the flow advances to step S9.5 to store the content code in the converted key code column of the key table TBL. Then, the process proceeds to step S9.6, in which the pointer in the converted key code column is advanced to prepare for reading the next converted key code, and the process returns to step S9.4 again.

By realizing the above processing, the operator can confirm the correspondence between the registration key and the converted key (code) on the display screen. Also, the registered conversion information (document form) is later
It is also possible to take it out and make corrections. Further, once the corresponding document is created, there is an advantage that the key can be registered only by pressing the registration key TKEY once when actually operating the key.

2) In this embodiment, the input key code conversion processing is performed on the information processing apparatus side, but the conversion processing can also be performed on the keyboard input apparatus 40 side. In this case, a memory for storing conversion information and a key code conversion circuit are provided on the keyboard side.

3) In this embodiment, the conversion key table is registered in a volatile memory such as a RAM. However, the conversion key table may be stored in, for example, a nonvolatile RAM (expressed as an SRAM). A battery for holding the storage state of the SRAM is incorporated in the device as shown in FIG. Also, if the code of the registered key in the key table and the code of the converted key are the same at the time of manufacture,
The key code conversion process of No. 10 can be simplified as shown in FIG. That is, in step S2 of FIG. 12, the key table TBL of the SRAM is referred to, and in the subsequent step S3, the converted key code corresponding to the input key code is registered in the execution table JTBL. Thereafter, the procedure shifts to a procedure for identifying the key code of the execution table JTBL. This method has the advantage that the registration key can be used immediately upon power-on.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The instruction contents of the functions executed by a plurality of information processing apparatuses are registered in one key, and the functions executed by the plurality of information processing apparatuses can be input by pressing one key, and the operability of the keys can be entered. Is improved.

[0060]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a character processing device to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 3 is a top view schematically showing a key arrangement of the keyboard input device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing key codes and information names corresponding to the key codes according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a key table TBL according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of an execution table JTBL according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of registered contents according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure executed by a CPU according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure executed by a CPU according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another processing procedure executed by the CPU according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Central processing unit (CPU) 20 RAM 30 ROM 40 Keyboard input device (KB) 50 CRT display device 60 Printer (PRT) 70 External storage device (DISK)

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A registration unit for registering conversion information for converting a first key code signal into a plurality of second key code signals indicating functions to be executed by a plurality of information processing devices in a storage unit, and operation of a key. When the first key code signal is generated, the first key code signal is converted into a plurality of second keys indicating a function to be executed by the plurality of information processing devices based on the conversion information registered by the registration unit. Signal input means for converting a plurality of second key code signals indicating functions executed by the plurality of converted information processing devices into the code processing device, and inputting the plurality of second key code signals to the information processing device. . 2. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein said registration means starts when it is determined that a registration key is pressed. 3. If the registration key is determined to be pressed and the registration means is started, the registration means is terminated by determining that the registration key is depressed again. An information input device according to item 1. 4. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that a release key is pressed, the registration unit deletes the contents registered in the storage unit. 5. A registration step of registering conversion information for converting a first key code signal into a plurality of second key code signals indicating functions executed by a plurality of information processing devices in a storage unit, and operating a key. When the first key code signal is generated, the first key code signal is generated based on the conversion information registered in the registration step by a plurality of second keys indicating a function to be executed by the plurality of information processing devices. Converting a plurality of second key code signals indicating functions to be executed by the plurality of converted information processing devices into the information processing device. . 6. The information input method according to claim 5, wherein the registration step is started by determining that a registration key has been pressed. 7. When the registration key is determined to be pressed and the registration step is started, the registration step is terminated by determining that the registration key is pressed again. Information input method described in. 8. The information input method according to claim 5, wherein when it is determined that the release key is pressed, the contents registered in said storage means are deleted in said registration step.