JPH01112416A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of operation error of a key by providing a display device driven by a displaying control circuit and to display data at the key top of the function key of a keyboard. CONSTITUTION:When address data and character string coding data are received from an external part through a communication controller 1, a displaying control circuit 2 defines a display 3 of a function key 4 to decode and display address data. The displaying control circuit 2 prepares character string data corresponding to the coded character string data set beforehand in accordance with the coded character string data paired with the address data, supplies the character string data to the display 3 corresponding to the defined address and executes the character display.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to keyboards, and in particular, what functions are currently being performed by keys (hereinafter referred to as function keys) that can convert functions achieved by key input by a program. The present invention relates to a keyboard that displays whether the computer has a keyboard or not.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of keyboard, what function each function key currently has is determined by the CR connected to the main body 11 of the keyboard, as shown in FIG.
On the T12 screen, press each function key 13-1 to 1
A display indicating each function is made at a position approximately corresponding to 3-4, and the key top of each function key 13-1 to 13-4 has a key display f'1 to indicate that the key is a function key. 4 had been done.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the conventional keyboard described above, the current function of each function key is displayed at a position approximately corresponding to the position of each function key on the screen of a CRT connected to the keyboard. Normally, the characters displayed on the key top of each key directly indicate the function of that key, but in the case of function keys, it is impossible to determine what function each function key has just by looking at it. In addition, the CRT display also changes depending on the position of each function key and the CRT 12, as shown in Figure 6.
There are many cases where the positions of the function displays 14-1 to 14-4 on the screen do not match.

Therefore, there is a drawback that it is not possible to instantly determine which function key corresponds to the function you want to use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard that allows the function of each function key to be determined at a glance.

[Means for solving problems]

The keyboard of the present invention includes a communication control circuit that receives and transfers address data specifying keys to be displayed and character string coded data indicating display contents, and a communication control circuit that decodes the address data to determine the address and a display control circuit that converts column coded data to create character string data;
and a display device that displays the character string data at a position corresponding to the address.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a communication control circuit 1 receives and transfers address data specifying a function key inputted from the outside and character string coded data indicating display contents;
A display control circuit 2 that decodes address data to determine the address and creates character string data corresponding to the character string encoded data, and a display 3 that displays the character string data at a position corresponding to the address. include.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a display device used in the first embodiment of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, a display 3 corresponding to the function key 4 is provided on the key top of an arbitrary function key 4 on the keyboard.

Now, when address data and character string encoded data are received from the outside via the communication control circuit 1, the display control circuit 2 determines the display 3 of the function key 4 to decode and display the address data. For example, when the address data is a 4-bit binary code "0001", it specifies the function key 4-1.

Next, the display control circuit 2 creates character string data corresponding to the preset character string encoded data according to the character string encoded data paired with the address data, and displays the character string data corresponding to the determined address. Character string data is supplied to the device 3, and the display device 3 displays characters based on the character string data.

Through the above-described series of operations, in the first embodiment, the current function of each function key is displayed on the top of the key. If you look at each key, you can instantly determine what function it has.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a display device used in a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, five function keys 6-1 to 6-5 are provided on the top surface of the main body 5, and a display having a rectangular display surface is provided above the function keys 6-1 to 6-5. A container 7 is provided. Note that the circuit configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the display 7 has function keys 6-
1 to 6-5 in the form of a panel, the number of data that can be displayed increases compared to the first embodiment.
This embodiment has the advantage of being able to display more detailed information than the embodiment described above.

[Effects of the invention]

As explained above, the present invention has a communication control circuit that performs data communication with the outside within the keyboard body, a display control circuit that converts data received by the communication control circuit, and a display control circuit that drives the display control circuit to display data. By providing a display device, it is possible to instantly determine what function each function key currently has, which has the effect of preventing key operation errors from occurring.

In addition, conventionally, the function display of each function key was displayed on a part of the CRT screen connected to the keyboard, but since there is no need to display it on the CRT, the CRT screen can be used more widely. It has a positive effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a display used in the first embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. Perspective view of the display device used, No. 4
The figure is a perspective view of a first example of a conventional keyboard, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second example of a conventional keyboard. 1... Communication control circuit, 2... Display control circuit, 3...
・Display unit, 4...Function key, 5...Main body, 6-1 to 6-5...Function key, 7...
Display, 11...Main body, 12...CRT, 13-1
~13-4,...Function key, 14-1~1
4-4...Function display.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a communication control circuit that receives and transfers address data specifying a key to be displayed and character string encoded data indicating display contents; and a communication control circuit that decodes the address data to determine the address and converts the character string encoded data. 1. A keyboard comprising: a display control circuit that creates character string data using a character string; and a display device that displays the character string data at a position corresponding to the address.