JPH0279515A - Function changeover device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability by using very few input keys and the number of a display devices to the minimum, displaying a single function sequentilally on the screen, and operating a carriage return key when a desired function is displayed so as to select the function thereby changing over the functions. CONSTITUTION:The state of plural input keys 1 is detected by a key read means 2 and a display means 3 displays based on the result characters in response to the input of the key 1 on a display body 4. The state of each switch is read by a CPU 5 via a buffer 11 controlled by an address decoder 6. On the other hand, when character display is applied on a liquid crystal display panel(LCD), the CPU 5 gives an instruction to an LCD controller 13 controlling directly the LCD 14 in response to the switch. The CPU 5 and the controller 13 are communicated through an interface circuit 12. Thus, even if the display area is very narrow, many functions are changed over with several keys in use.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for switching functions of an Mi# switching device.

[Conventional technology]

In calculators, electronic notebooks, electronic translators, and the like that have many functions, the functions have been switched by pressing a dedicated key or another key.

For this reason, the switching keys always had their functions printed on them. On the other hand, in many cases, you can tell which function is currently active by checking the mark printed on the display according to the cursor position, but when switching, there was no indication for that function. .

On the other hand, when a relatively large number of characters can be displayed, such as on a personal computer, you can display several functions by name on the screen, line them up, and specify the number and position of any function using the cursor keys or mouse. I was making a switch.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, calculators, electronic notebooks, and electronic translation devices require more space than personal computers, and cannot be equipped with large displays or multiple keys, so switching using dedicated keys is not practical. When the number of keys increases, operations become complicated even when using a shift key, and printing to show the functions of the keys becomes complicated, resulting in a loss of portability and operability.

On the other hand, even if the screen of a personal computer is large, a large display area for selecting functions is required when the screen becomes multi-functional, and in some cases, the display area is used only for selecting the entire screen, which is extremely wasteful in terms of work.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and uses a very small number of input keys and a minimum number of displays to sequentially display a single function on one screen, so that the desired function is displayed. Select the m function by operating the input key at #
! The object of the present invention is to obtain a function switching device that performs function switching.

[Means to solve the problem]

a display body for displaying characters such as letters and symbols; a human key for scrolling and selecting characters displayed on the display body; key reading means for temporarily retaining the state of the input keys; It consists of a character to be displayed on the display according to the state of the input key based on the result of the key reading means, and a display means that judges the display position of the character and displays the character on the display. The present invention is characterized in that functions are switched by selecting the contents of a character string.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of a function switching device according to the present invention. The states of the plurality of input keys 1 are detected by the key reading means 2, and based on the results, the display means 3 displays characters corresponding to the inputs of the input keys 1 on the display body 4.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram when a CPU is used.

This is an example where there are four switches in total, and when the CPU 5 reads, the state of each switch is as follows: SW+ goes to flip-flop (hereinafter referred to as FF) 7, SWp goes to FF8, SW
3 is held in FF9, and S W j is held in FF10.
'It has become. The state of each switch is read by the CPU 5 via a buffer 11 controlled by an address decoder 6.

On the other hand, the character display is a liquid crystal display board (hereinafter referred to as LCD).
If this is done, the CPU 5 gives commands to the LCD controller 13 that directly controls the LCD 14 in accordance with the above-described switches. CPU5 and LCD controller 13 are L
Communication is performed through the CD controller interface circuit 12.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a multi-function calculator equipped with the function switching device of the present invention.

Display 16, input key 17, shift key 1 on main body 15
8. An up scroll key 19, a down scroll key 20, and keys for calculating numbers, calculations, and other functions are arranged on the main body 15 on the same plane as the other keys.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of each function and switching method of a multi-function calculator equipped with the function switching device of the present invention.

In addition to its original use as a calculator, the multi-function calculator used as an example can also be used to select functions such as an English-Japanese/Japanese-English dictionary, an address book, a schedule, and a clock. Also, when the power is turned on, it automatically functions as a calculator. To use other functions, you have to switch them once before entering them.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the initial screen when the calculator is in use and when each function is switched.

In FIG. 5(a), the calculator is in use and numbers and symbols are displayed. In this state, input key 1, which is the key shown in FIG.
By pressing 7 and shift key 18 at the same time, you can switch to a function other than the calculator, and in the example, the initial screen as shown in Figure 5(b) appears, and in this case it changes to one of the functions explained in Figure 4, the English-Japanese dictionary. be able to.

Then, each time the down scroll key 20 is pressed once, the screen changes to the initial screen of another function as shown in FIG. 5(C).

(d), (e), and (f), and if you press the down scroll key 20 once again in the state of (f), the
The screen shown in b) will appear.

Similarly, each time you press the up scroll key 19,
The screens are shown in Figure 5 (f), (e), and (d).

The screen changes in the order of (C) and (b), and when the upward scroll key 19 is further pressed once in the state of (b), the screen shown in FIG. 5(f) appears.

In this way, the initial screen of each function is scrolled and selected using the up and down scroll keys.

Figure 5 (c) shows the Japanese-English dictionary function, Figure 5 (d) shows the address book function, Figure 5 (e) shows the schedule function, Figure 5 (
f) shows an example of the initial screen when switching to the clock function, and in conjunction with Fig. 5(b), each initial screen has a question mark at the end of the sentence, and the format is a question to indicate that it is the initial screen. It is distinguished from the general screen.

To return to the basic calculator after selecting each function, press the input key 17 and shift key 18 at the same time while any of the initial screens are displayed, allowing you to immediately input and calculate numerical values.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for each function immediately after execution of switching.

First, select the state shown in Figure 5(b) using the up and down scroll keys, and if you want to switch to the English-Japanese dictionary function, press the input key 17 while this screen is displayed and the screen will change to the state shown in Figure 6 (
Change to a). At this point, the function switches to an English-Japanese dictionary for the first time, and after that, you will be able to enter English words using the keys as shown.

Similarly, by pressing the input key 17 in the state shown in FIG. 5(C), the screen changes to FIG. 6(b), where the Japanese-English dictionary function is activated, and after that, all you have to do is input words. Input key 17 in the state shown in Fig. 5(d)
Press to display the address book function shown in Figure 6 (C). After that, just enter the name as instructed. Press the input key 17 in the state shown in Figure 5 (e) to display the address book function shown in Figure 6 (d). This becomes a schedule function, and then you can enter the date. When the input key 17 is pressed in the state shown in FIG. 5(f), the screen changes to the clock function and the time is displayed as shown in FIG. 6(e).

As described above, by selecting the initial screen display for each function and pressing the input key, switching to that function can be realized.

Returning to the original calculator from each function is possible by pressing the input key 17 and shift key 18 at the same time.

In the example given above, only about ten or more characters can be displayed in one line, but although there is no limit to the display range, it is easy to switch functions even when a large number of characters cannot be displayed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in the embodiments above, the display area is very narrow, and it is possible to switch a large number of functions using only a few usable keys.

Therefore, the display body does not need to be large, and dedicated switching keys and printing indicating their functions are no longer necessary, so that the portability of particularly small devices can be improved.

Since the keys for switching functions perform only basic and simple functions, they can be provided with other functions other than switching functions. Therefore, as long as you understand the basic functions of the keys, you can operate it without any special explanation, and the device can be made even more compact.

Since each key does not correspond to each switch, even if a function is added or deleted, it is only a software problem, so it can be widely handled.

And since switching can be easily organized into a hierarchical structure, it is possible to fully handle fairly complex functions.

In addition, because the present invention is small, even in measuring instruments other than portable devices and devices with large screens, the area required for switching functions is very small, reducing the impact on other tasks. The effect is that efficiency can be increased.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of the function switching device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an example of a circuit diagram when using a CPU, and Fig. 3 is an example of a multi-function calculator equipped with the function switching device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of each function and switching method of a multi-function calculator equipped with the function switching device of the present invention, and FIGS. and Figures 6(a) to 6(e) showing an example of the initial screen when switching each function.
1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for each function immediately after execution of switching. 1... Input key 2... Key reading means 3... Display means 4... Display body 5... CPU 6... Address decoder 7, 8. 9. 10...Flip-flop 11.
...Buffer 12...LCD controller interface circuit 13...LCD controller 14...LCD 15...'Main body 16...Display 17...Input key 18...Shift key 19... Up scroll key 20... Down scroll key or higher Applicant Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney 1 Masayoshi Yanagi and 1 other person

Claims (1)

[Claims] A display body for displaying characters such as letters and symbols, input keys for scrolling and selecting characters displayed on the display body, key reading means for temporarily retaining the state of the input keys, and the keys. The display device comprises a character to be displayed on the display according to the state of the input key based on the result of the reading means, and a display means for determining the display position of the character and displaying the character on the display. A function switching device characterized in that the function is switched by selecting the contents of a character string.