JPH0258645B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a keyboard device used in a computer terminal device, a word processor device, etc.
The present invention relates to a keyboard device having a repeat function that outputs key codes at regular intervals.

The repeat function is a function in which when a key switch is held down for a certain period of time or more, the key code corresponding to that key is repeatedly output at a certain period. This function is useful when moving a cursor, drawing underlines or ruled lines with the dot keys, or repeatedly inputting specific characters.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional keyboard device. This device includes a key switch group 1 consisting of a plurality of key switches, and a key control unit 2 that detects a depressed key of the key switch group and converts a signal from the key into a predetermined key code.
and a strobe signal generation circuit 3 that generates a strobe signal in response to the output from the key control section 2.
and an output control circuit 4 that holds the key code from the key control section 2 and outputs the held key code to the outside in response to a strobe signal from the strobe signal generation circuit 3. has been done.

The output section of the key switch group 1 is connected to the input section of the key control section 2. Among the output parts of the key control section 2, the push signal output part is connected to the input part of the strobe signal generation circuit 3, and the key code output part is connected to the key code input part of the output control circuit 4 through n data lines. ing. The output section of the strobe signal generation circuit 3 is connected to the strobe signal input section of the output control circuit 4. The output section of the output control circuit 4 is connected to a computer terminal device main body, a word processor main body (not shown), etc. through n data lines.

FIG. 2 shows the key depression situation and the generation timing of the strobe signal in the conventional device shown in FIG. In the figure, a is a signal from the key control unit 2 indicating that a key has been pressed, and b is a strobe signal output from the strobe signal generation circuit 3.

Next, the operation of the conventional device shown in FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. When a key is depressed in the key switch group 1, the key control unit 2 reliably detects the depressed key while counting the chattering time of the depressed key.
When the key control unit 2 detects a pressed key, it converts the pressed signal into a predetermined key code according to the pressed key, and sends the key code to the output control unit 4. At the same time, the key control unit 2 sends a signal indicating that a key has been pressed to the strobe signal generation circuit 3. The strobe signal generation circuit 3 is the third
As will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 6, when a signal indicating that a key has been pressed is received from the key control unit 2, a strobe signal of time T4 is sent to the output control circuit 4, and at the same time, a waiting time T1 is emitted until the start of repeating. Start timing. If the strobe signal generation circuit 3 still receives a signal indicating that a key is pressed after the time T1 has elapsed, it sends the strobe signal to the output control circuit 4 again. Thereafter, the strobe signal generation circuit 3 starts counting the repeat time T2, and if it still receives a signal indicating that a key has been pressed after the T2 time has elapsed, it generates a strobe signal to the output control circuit 4 and measures the repeat time T2. repeat. The measurement of the repeat time T2 in the strobe signal generation circuit 3 and the generation of the strobe signal to the output control circuit 4 continue until there is no longer a signal indicating that a key has been pressed from the key control section 2. When the output control circuit 4 receives the key code from the key control section 2, it internally holds the value. Each time a strobe signal is sent from the strobe signal generation circuit 3, the key code held internally is outputted to the outside only once. In this way, if you keep pressing the key switch for more than T1 hours,
After the time has elapsed, the key code is repeatedly output at the T2 time period.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the strobe signal generation circuit 3. A single pulse generator 31 that determines the time until the start of repeat, a single pulse generator 32 that generates a strobe signal to the output control circuit, and a single pulse generator 33 that determines the time interval of repeat.
, a 2-input OR gate 34, and a 2-input NAND gate 35.

4 and 5 show the operation of strobe signal generation circuit 3 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. FIG. 4 shows the case without repeating, and FIG. 5 shows the case with repeating. 4 and 5, signal a is a signal to the strobe signal generation circuit 3 indicating that a key has been pressed, signal b is the output signal of the single pulse generator 31, signal c is the output signal of the OR gate 34, and signal d
is the output signal of the NAND gate 35, signal e is the output signal of the single pulse generator 33, and signal f is the output signal of the single pulse generator 32.

First, the key press time is the repeat waiting time T
If it is shorter than 1, the strobe signal generation circuit 3
operates as shown in FIG. That is, when the signal a indicating that a key is pressed rises, the single pulse generating circuit 31 outputs a pulse for the time width T1 like the signal b. Signal b passes through OR gate 34 to become signal c, which is input to single pulse generator 32. The single pulse generator 32 outputs a pulse for a time width T4 according to the rise of this signal c,
This becomes the strobe signal f to the output control circuit 4. On the other hand, the signal c becomes an input signal to the NAND gate 35 together with the signal a, and the NAND gate 35 outputs "0" like the signal d while both of its two inputs are "1". When the signal indicating that a key is pressed is gone and signal a falls,
The NAND gate 35 outputs "1" and the signal d falls. The single pulse generator 33 outputs "1" in response to the rise of the signal d. However, at this time, since the signal c is still "1", the input state of the single pulse generator 32 does not change, and no strobe signal is output from the single pulse generator 32. In this way, if the key press time is shorter than the repeat waiting time T1, the strobe signal f to the output control circuit 4 is output only once.

Next, the key press time is the repeat waiting time T
If it is longer than 1, strobe signal generation circuit 3
performs the operation shown in FIG. That is, the operation when the signal a indicating that a key is pressed rises is the same as that shown in FIG. 4, and the strobe signal f is outputted once. When time T1 has elapsed since the single pulse generator 31 started operating, the signal b changes from "1" to "0". Since the signal b becomes "0", the output signal c of the OR gate 34 becomes "0". As the signal c becomes "0", the output of the NAND gate 35 changes from "0" to "1", and the signal d rises. When the signal d rises, the single pulse generator 33 starts operating, and the signal e becomes "1" for a time width T2. As the signal e becomes "1", the output signal c of the OR gate 34 changes from "0" to "1" again, and the rise of the signal c causes the single pulse generator 32 to output "1" during the time width T4. Outputs 1”. This is the start of the repeat.
On the other hand, when signal c becomes "1", signal a, signal c
Since both are "1", the NAND gate 35 changes from "1" to "0", and the signal d becomes "0". Thereafter, when time T2 has elapsed, the signal e changes from "1" to "0", and thereby the signal c also changes from "1" to "0". When the signal c falls from "1" to "0", the same operation as described above starts again. From then on, as long as the signal a remains "1", the series of operations is repeated, and the strobe signal f becomes It is output every T2 hours. FIG. 6 shows the transition state during this repeat.

Since conventional keyboard devices are configured as described above, the repeat function and repeat cycle are uniquely determined for all the keyswitches in the keyswitch group, and the repeat function and repeat period for a specific keyswitch are determined uniquely. The drawback was that it was not possible to set different repeat cycles depending on the situation.

To compensate for these shortcomings, JP-A-53-
There is a technique disclosed in Publication No. 94124. The technique disclosed herein allows a repeat timing circuit to generate strobe signals of different cycles for each key switch, and allows the repeat cycle of each key switch to be set depending on the key switch. The specific configuration is to generate a selection signal for selecting a repeat period using a signal that is output when a key is pressed down. In other words, a selection signal is generated by identifying the pressed key and specifying the period during which it is pressed.

This technology has the advantage that the repeat cycle can be changed for each key switch in the key switch group, but in order to realize this, multiple key codes are often assigned to one key switch, and each key code However, there was an issue that needed to be solved in that the repeat cycle could not be changed.

The present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional device or technology, and allows the repeat cycle to be set for each key switch. To provide a keyboard device capable of setting a repeat function or a repeat period according to a key code even when the user uses a key code.

A keyboard device according to the present invention includes: a group of keyswitches; a key control means that detects the depression of a key and outputs a detection signal; and converts the depression of a key into a predetermined key code and outputs the same; and a key code. The decoding means includes a decoding means for classifying the key code into a plurality of groups, and the detection signal and the key code are inputted from the key control means. a selection signal generation means that generates a strobe signal with a different period based on the type of selection signal when the selection signal is input; and a strobe signal generation means that generates a strobe signal with a key code from the key control means. It consists of an output control means that outputs an output every time.

In this invention, the key control means identifies a key code from the depression of one or more keys, and also identifies a key depression period.

Further, the selection signal generation means uses the decoding means to classify the key codes into a plurality of groups corresponding to the repeat period, and generates a selection signal corresponding to the groups (that is, the repeat period).

The strobe signal generating means generates strobe signals of different cycles based on the selection signal while the selection signal is input (ie, while the key is pressed down).

Furthermore, the output control means outputs the key code to the outside every time a strobe signal is sent.

As described above, the present invention is special in that it has a key control means for specifying a key code from a key switch by pressing down the key switch, and has the function of changing the cycle for each key code. The technology disclosed in JP-A-53-94124 differs in specific structure and operation.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the conventional device shown in FIG. 1 is that a plurality of strobe signal generation circuits 6, 7, 8 are provided as strobe signal generation means, and furthermore, a plurality of strobe signal generation circuits 6, 7, 8 are provided as strobe signal generation means, and that , a selection signal generation circuit 5 is provided which serves as selection signal generation means for generating a signal for driving any one of the strobe signal generation circuits 6, 7, and 8.

A key code output section and a push signal output section of the key control section 2 are connected to an input section of the selection signal generation circuit 5. The three output parts of the selection signal generation circuit 5 are the strobe signal generation circuit 6,
It is connected to input sections 7 and 8. The output portions of the strobe signal generation circuits 6, 7, and 8 are each connected to a strobe signal input portion of an output control circuit 4 serving as an output control means.

FIG. 8 shows the key press situation and the strobe signal generation timing in the embodiment shown in FIG. In the figure, signal a is a selection signal output from selection signal generation circuit 5, and signals b, c, and d are
These are strobe signals output from strobe signal generation circuits 6, 7, and 8, respectively.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 will be explained with reference to FIG. When a key is depressed in the key switch group 1, the key control unit 2 reliably detects the depressed key while counting the chattering time of the depressed key.
When the key control unit 2 detects a pressed key, it converts the pressed signal into a predetermined key code according to the pressed key, sends the key code to the output control circuit 4, and sends the key code to the selection signal generation circuit 5. Sends a key code and a key press signal. As will be explained in more detail in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the selection signal generation circuit 5 receives a key code and a signal indicating that a key has been pressed from the key control unit 2, it determines whether the key code has a repeat function or not. Determine whether the repeat cycle is long or short. When the selection signal generation circuit 5 determines that the key code does not have a repeat function, the selection signal generation circuit 5 sends the selection signal a to the strobe signal generation circuit 6 while receiving the signal indicating that the key has been pressed. Output. If the selection signal generation circuit 5 determines that the key code has a repeat function and that the repeat cycle is long, the selection signal generation circuit 5 generates a strobe signal while receiving a signal indicating that a key has been pressed. A selection signal a is output to the generation circuit 7. Further, if the selection signal generation circuit 5 determines that the key code has a repeat function and that the repeat period is short, the selection signal generation circuit 5
is a selection signal a to the strobe signal generation circuit 8 while receiving a signal indicating that a key is pressed.
Output.

Upon receiving the selection signal a from the selection signal generation circuit 5, the strobe signal generation circuit 6 sends out a strobe signal b having a time width T4 to the output control circuit 4 only once. When the strobe signal generation circuit 7 receives the selection signal a from the selection signal generation circuit 5, it first sends out a strobe signal c with a time width T4 to the output control circuit 4, and at the same time measures the waiting time T1 until the start of the repeat. start. If the strobe signal generation circuit 7 still receives the selection signal a after the lapse of time T1, it sends out a strobe signal to the output control circuit 4. Thereafter, the strobe signal generation circuit 7 generates a signal for a relatively long repeat time T2.
If the selection signal a is still being received after the elapse of time T2, the generation of the strobe signal to the output control circuit 4 and the measurement of the repeat time T2 are repeated. The measurement of the repeat time T2 in the strobe signal generation circuit 7 and the generation of the strobe signal to the output control circuit 4 continue until the selection signal a is no longer received from the selection signal generation circuit 5. The operation of the strobe signal generation circuit 8 is also similar to the operation of the strobe signal generation circuit 7, except that the strobe signal generation circuit 8 measures a relatively short repeat time T3.

When the output control circuit 4 receives the key code from the key control section 2, it internally holds the value. Then, each time a strobe signal is sent from one of the strobe signal generation circuits 6, 7, and 8, the key code held inside is outputted to the outside only once.

In this way, if the key switch is held down for more than T1 time, the output control circuit 4 will output the following:
In the case of a key code without a repeat function, the key code is output only once, and in the case of a repeat function and a long repeat cycle, T2 is output after T1 time has elapsed.
A key code is output repeatedly in a time period, and if the repeat function is enabled and the repeat period is short, T
After one hour has elapsed, the key code is repeatedly output at a T3 time period.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the selection signal generation circuit 5.
This is the decoding ROM 5 which is the decoding means.
It consists of 1. ROM51 for decoding
has a storage area of m blocks, an n-bit address input line and a 3-bit output line. The data stored in each address is predetermined so that only one of the three bits of output data is "1" and the other two are "0". FIG. 10 shows an example of the address (key code) of the decoding ROM 51 and the output data. Outputs 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the strobe signal generation circuits 6, 7, and 8, respectively.

In the decoding ROM 51, when a signal indicating that a key is pressed and an n-bit key code are input, one address is selected according to the n-bit key code. Then, the data previously stored at the address is output to each output line. For example, if the key code is 0,0,0,...,1, address 1 will be selected,
“1”, “0”, “0” for outputs 1, 2, and 3, respectively
is output. This 3-bit output continues to be output while the signal indicating that a key is pressed is input. When the key press signal disappears, all three bits output become "0". In this case, a selection signal of "1" is output from output 1 to the strobe signal generation circuit 6, so the strobe signal generation circuit 6 operates, and as described above, a single strobe signal is sent to the output control circuit 4. is output against. Even when another key code is input, one of the strobe signal generation circuits 6, 7, and 8 is selectively driven in accordance with the key code.

Next, specific effects of this invention will be described.

For example, in Japanese key codes, hiragana, alphabet letters, symbols, etc. are assigned to one key, and in combination with "alphanumeric" keys, "hiragana" keys, control keys, shift keys, etc., they are assigned to that key. One key code is selected from multiple key codes. According to the present invention, it becomes possible to select a repeat period corresponding to each of a plurality of key codes assigned to one key in this way. The technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 53-94124 mentioned above in the prior art section allows only one repeat cycle to be selected for one key (key switch), and cannot select a cycle for a key code.

For example, "me" and "・" are assigned to one key, "me" is selected when "Hiragana mode" is selected by the "Hiragana" key, and "・" is assigned to "Alphanumeric mode". ” is selected by the “alphanumeric” key. Here, there is usually no case where pressing and holding "me" causes "mememe...". Therefore, for ``me'', the repeat period can be ``none'' or ``long period''. On the other hand, "・" is usually followed by "..." and is often repeated. In this case, it is better to set it to "short cycle" because it allows for faster input and easier operation. Similarly, it is better to use short periods for vertical and horizontal lines used to create underlines and tables.

The insert key will be described as another example.
It is assumed that if you press only the insert key, you can select character insert mode or overwrite mode, and if you press the insert key and control key at the same time, the cursor and the following lines will be shifted down one line to insert one line. If you press only the insert key, the repeat function is not necessary because it simply switches the mode, but if you press the insert key and control key at the same time,
If you want to insert 10 rows, it would be better to have a repeat function.

As mentioned above, one key (key switch)
A plurality of key codes may be assigned to each key code to achieve completely different functions, and the present invention has the advantage that the repeat cycle can be changed depending on the function of the key code.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the keyboard device is configured to have a key control means that assigns a key code in response to the depression of a key switch, the keyboard device can be repeatedly pressed depending on the type of key code assigned to the key switch. function settings, or
You can set the repeat cycle. Therefore, key codes that do not require a repeat function, key codes that require a relatively long repeat cycle, key codes that require a relatively short repeat cycle, etc. should be mixed and assigned on one key switch. This has the effect of improving the operability of a keyboard device, which is a typical device for man-machine interface.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a conventional keyboard device. Second
The figure shows the key press situation and the generation timing of the strobe signal in the conventional device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the strobe signal generation circuit 3. 4 and 5 show the operation of strobe signal generation circuit 3 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. FIG. 6 shows the transition state when repeating FIG. 5. 7th
The figure shows one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 shows the key press situation in this embodiment shown in FIG.
Indicates the generation timing of the strobe signal. FIG. 9 shows an example of the selection signal generation circuit 5. FIG. 10 shows an example of the address (key code) of the decoding ROM 51 and output data. In the figure, 1 is a group of key switches, 2 is a key control section, 3, 6, 7, 8 are strobe signal generation circuits, 4 is an output control circuit, 5 is a selection signal generation circuit,
31, 32, 33 are single pulse generators, 34 is a single pulse generator
An OR gate, 35 a NAND gate, and 51 a decoding ROM.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A key switch group consisting of a plurality of key switches; detecting a depressed key of the key switch group, outputting a detection signal while the key is being depressed, and predetermining a signal from the key; and a decoding means for classifying the key code into a plurality of predetermined groups, by inputting the key code from the key control means to the decoding means. selection signal generating means for generating a plurality of types of selection signals respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of groups of key codes during a period in which the detection signal output from the key control means and the key codes are being input; strobe signal generating means that generates a strobe signal having a different period based on the type of selection signal when input, and periodically generates a strobe signal while the selection signal continues to be input; output control means for holding the key code that has been sent, and outputting the held key code each time the strobe signal is sent from the strobe signal generation means.