JPH02202230A - Keyboard with function key function display - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of a keyboard by providing a display device displaying the content of a function of a function key in terms of the software onto the keyboard. CONSTITUTION:A display device 6 is arranged at the upper part of function keys 1 and consists of a thin and long liquid crystal display section displaying functions of the function keys 1. A display representing the content of a function of each function key 1 such as 'DIR' or 'TYPE' or the like is given onto the display device 6. When the content of the function of the function keys 1 is changed into other content by a program, the content is revised into another display representing a new content of function of the function keys 1 and displayed by a display control section of the display device 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a keyboard that is an input device for a computer, and more particularly to a keyboard that can display the contents of function keys.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a keyboard, which is an input device for this type of computer, has a function key, for example, as shown in FIG.
In order to display the functional contents of 11, CR, which is an output device,
It is used either by displaying it at the bottom of a T-display (not shown) or by placing a card with the function written on the keyboard.

The keyboard includes alphanumeric keys 12, cursor movement keys 13, numeric keys 14, and special keys 15 in addition to the func key 11.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The conventional keyboard described above has function keys 11
When displaying the function contents, it is either displayed at the bottom of the CRT display that is the output device, or a card with the function written on the keyboard is used, so in the former case, the entire screen is used. In the case of the software that uses the The disadvantage is that the card must be replaced every time, and the contents of the function keys cannot be changed using a program.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A keyboard with function key function display according to the present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is a keyboard having a plurality of function keys.

A display device made of liquid crystal or the like is provided near the key, and the display device has a display control section that changes the display according to the function of the function key using software.

[Example] Next, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The keyboard of this embodiment includes a function key 1, an alphanumeric key 2, a cursor movement key 3, a numeric keypad 4,
A display section F is provided on the keyboard main body 10 having special keys 5.
! 16.

The display device 6 is disposed above the function key 1 and consists of an elongated liquid crystal display section that displays the function of the function key 1. The display device 6 also includes a display control unit that changes the display content using internal software when the function of the function key 1 is changed by a program. In this embodiment, the display section M6 is a liquid crystal display, but other display methods may be used, for example, L
It may also be displayed using ED etc.
The display device 6 of this embodiment has all function keys l.
Although it is a series of display parts with approximately the same length as the length of
The display device 6 may be divided and arranged for each function key l.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

First, on the display device 6, a display indicating the function contents of each key of the function keys l (for example, rDxl'lJ r
Next, if the program changes the function of the function key 1 to another menu, the display control section of the display device 6 will change the function of the new function key 1. The display is changed to the one shown below.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the keyboard with function key function display according to the present invention can display the function contents of the function keys by providing a display device on the keyboard that displays the function contents of the function keys using software. When displaying functions, there is no need to create an area on the computer's display screen to display functions, and the screen can be used effectively. Also, when replacing the software used, there is no need to replace the card on the keyboard. There is no need to change the display using the software in the display control unit, which has the effect of improving keyboard operability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a keyboard with function key function display according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of a conventional keyboard. 1: Function key 2: Alphanumeric key 3: Cursor movement key 4: Numeric keypad 52 Special keys 6: Display device 10: Keyboard

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a keyboard having a plurality of function keys, a display device made of liquid crystal or the like is provided near the function keys, and the display device changes the display according to the function contents of the function keys by software. A keyboard with a function key function display, characterized in that it has a display control section that displays functions of function keys.