JPH03111922A - Multi-item key input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily expand a normal personal computer system to a system capable of inputting items by providing the device with a mode switching key for switching a keyboard mode and an item input mode. CONSTITUTION:When the mode switching key 5 is set up to the keyboard mode, a keyboard matrix is displayed on a display device. Since a program memory 8 is switched to a program memory A block for commanding function operation in the keyboard mode, the device is constituted to equip all functions including a function key matrix 4 as a keyboard and the device can be used as a personal computer system having normal keyboard input. When the key 5 is switched to the item input mode, an item inputted screen is displayed on the display device in accordance with the contents of a loaded book 6.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a multi-item key input device, for systems that standardly support a keyboard as an input device, item key input and keyboard input can be easily performed by operating a mode switching key. The purpose is to switch modes and enable use in either mode, and the display device, the item input board arranged on the display device, the function key matrix, the book, and the function operation in the keyboard mode. a program memory for commanding a functional operation in the item input mode, a mode switching key for switching between the keyboard mode and the item input mode, and a control unit;
The polynomial key input device is configured to include at least an interface circuit for transmitting and receiving keyboard mode data between the control section and a keyboard interface circuit of the main body.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an improvement of a multi-item key input device.

Recently, personal computer systems have become widely used in many offices and stores. Most of these systems are equipped with a keyboard as an input device.

On the other hand, item input, which is superior in terms of user convenience and operability, has begun to attract attention, and some systems that support multi-item key input devices have begun to be used as input devices. There is a need for the development of an input device that allows item input even in the commonly used personal computer systems.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration using a conventional keyboard as an input device.

In the figure, 1" is the keyboard, and the key matrix is 2".

Function key matrix 4゛, control section 7++.

It is composed of an interface circuit 9'' and the like.

IO is the main body of the system, for example, a personal computer, and the keyboard interface circuit 11 stores the keyboard interface software that supports the keyboard. Control unit 13. A display device 14 consisting of a CRT or the like. It consists of memo January 5n that stores various data, user application software, etc.

Now, for example, when you press the Iil key, the code specified by the keyboard standard: °49", that is, l01
001001]. Also, when you press the 7゛ key, the code specified by the keyboard standard is: '37'.
That is, it is output as [00110111].

Therefore, when a key is pressed such as =i+"7", an output signal from the interface circuit 9", for example, R52
32C serial interface f0100100]
] [00110111] is transferred to the main unit IO via the keyboard interface circuit 11.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration using a conventional multi-item key input device.

In the figure, 1'' is a multi-item key input device, which is disposed on a display device 3 consisting of, for example, a plasma display.

For example, an item input board 2 consisting of a transparent touch panel. Function key matrix 4. Book 6° control unit 7', program memory 8 which is external memory
', an interface circuit 9', etc.

Reference numeral 10'' designates the main body of the system, for example, a personal computer for product management, and an interface circuit 11'1.A memory 12' that stores item input interface software that supports a multi-item key input device.

A control section 13', a display device 14 consisting of a CRT, etc. Memory 15 that stores various data, user application software, etc.
It consists of ゜, etc.

Now, for example, the number of Book 6 is 2. That page is 1
When an item is input by touching one item coordinate (x, i-(7,9)), a special item coordinate code unique to the multi-item key input device is output.

For example, (x coordinate), (y coordinate), (page number,)
, (Book No.,)-+(0,7)H,(0,9)H
, (0,1)H, (0,2)H−+ [0000011
11 [00001001] [00000001) r
000000], 0], and is outputted from the interface circuit 9' via R3232C serial transfer to the main unit 10 via the interface circuit 11' compatible with the item input interface.
Data is transferred to and processed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned conventional multi-item key input device has only one key to input items.
Because it has a special code system such as outputting the item coordinate code as mentioned above when pressed, it cannot be connected to the system main body via the keyboard interface, and the keyboard is supported as an input device. There was a problem in that it was not possible to expand a normal personal computer system into a system that could input items, and it was necessary to solve this problem.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above-mentioned problem consists of a display device 3, an item input board 2 disposed on the display device 3, a function key matrix 4, a book 6, and a program memory A for instructing functional operations in the keyboard mode. , a program memory B for commanding functional operations in the item input mode, a mode switching key 5 for switching between the keyboard mode and the item input mode, a control section 7, and keyboards of the control section 7 and the main body section 10. This problem can be solved by configuring a multi-item key input device that includes at least an interface circuit 9 that transmits and receives keyboard mode data to and from the interface circuit 11.

[Function] The multi-item key input device of the present invention includes a program memory block for instructing functional operations in keyboard mode, a program memory B block for instructing functional operations in item input mode, and a program memory block for instructing functional operations in keyboard mode and item input mode. Since the keyboard is equipped with a mode switching key 5 for switching the input mode, conventional keyboards are supported as standard.

For example, when connected to a personal computer system, if the mode switching key 5 is set to keyboard mode, the keyboard key matrix display will be displayed on the display device and it can be used for conventional keyboard input. When the mode is switched to the item input mode, the item display is displayed on the display device, and the item coordinate code is automatically converted into a code compatible with the keyboard interface, so that data can be transferred to the main unit 10 of the system. Therefore, it is possible to easily expand a normal personal computer system that supports a keyboard as a standard input device to a system that can input items.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In the figure, 1 is a multi-item key input device according to the present invention.

For example, it is arranged on a display device 3 consisting of a plasma display. For example, an item input board 2 consisting of a transparent touch panel. Function key matrix 4. Mode switching key 5° is an external memory. For example, a book 6 consisting of an IC memory card, a control unit 7.
Program memory (A and B)8. It is composed of an interface circuit 9 and the like.

10 is the main body of the system, for example, a normal personal computer supporting a keyboard as an input device;
Keyboard interface circuit 11. Memory that stores keyboard interface software that supports the keyboard 12. Control unit 13. A display device 14 consisting of a CRT or the like. It is comprised of a memory 15 that stores various data, item data conversion software, user application software, and the like.

In the above configuration, when the mode switching key 5 is set to the keyboard mode, the keyboard key matrix display is displayed on the display device, and the program memory 8 is switched to a program memory block for commanding functional operations in the keyboard mode. Therefore, the device is configured to have all the functions of a keyboard including the function key matrix 4, and can be used as a personal computer system for normal keyboard input.

On the other hand, if the mode switching key 5 is switched to the item input mode, an item input screen corresponding to the page selected by the page switching key (not shown) is displayed according to the contents of the attached book 6. and the program memory 8 is switched to the program memory B block for commanding functional operations in the item input mode.
All item input information is notified to the main unit 10 using a combination of codes defined on the keyboard. That is,
Input data in the item coordinate code is automatically converted into data in a keyboard interface compatible code and transferred to the main unit 10.

Now, for example, the number of Book 6 is 2. That page is 1
When you input an item by touching 1 item coordinates (x, y) = (7, 9), instead of outputting a special item coordinate code specific to the multi-item key input device, it is output as defined by the standard code standard of the keyboard. Convert and output the specified code combination.

That is, coordinates (x, y) = (7,9L page 1. Book 2 →゛i゛, "7+, +g+, +p", "0',
The code string is '1', 'B', '0°, °2'' → fo1001001] [00110111]
Since it is transferred as a pulse train such as...
Input data can be sent to the main body section 10 via the keyboard interface circuit 11 in exactly the same way as in the case of keyboard input. Incidentally, the user may prepare the item data and the like in the memo January 5 together with the item data conversion software.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the program memory configuration of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which block A may be configured to correspond to the keyboard mode, and block B may be configured to correspond to the item input mode.

Incidentally, the area marked ■ is dedicated to the keyboard mode, the area marked ■ is used exclusively for inputting items, and the area marked ■ is a schematic example of an area shared by both modes.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 16 is a page switching key, and a key 117 for selecting a page of the book 6 is a cable for transmitting power and signals. As shown in the figure, the book 6 uses, for example, an external IC memory.

Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those explained in the above drawings, and the explanation of the same parts will be omitted.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples, and it goes without saying that preferred parts and configurations, or combinations thereof, may be used as appropriate, as long as they comply with the spirit of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and inexpensively perform item input applications for many systems that support only a keyboard as a key input device. This greatly contributes to improving system functionality and lowering prices.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of the program configuration of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a system configuration using a conventional keyboard as an input device, and FIG. 5 is a diagram Z showing an example of a system configuration using a conventional multi-item key input device. In the figure, 1 is a multi-item key input device, 2 is an item input board, 3.14 is a display device, 4 is a function key matrix, 5 is a mode switching key 6 is a book, 7.13 is a control unit, 8 is a program memory , 9 is an interface circuit, 11 is a keyboard interface circuit, and 12.15 is a memory. 1 of course item - entry 1 This fixed date month's sharp-colored ita'1 is far away! Continuing, the theory of usurpation and the theory that the book is invented is hilarious! '1 Perspective view showing the external appearance of Table 1 An example of a stem structure with a conventional hemboard and 7'7 branches 4f to structure
'I'm stunned 1 figure 85 figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] A display device (3), and an item input board (2) disposed on the display device (3).
), Function key matrix (4), Book (6), Program memory (A) for commanding functional operations in keyboard mode, and Program memory (B) for commanding functional operations in item input mode. , a mode switching key (5) for switching between keyboard mode and item input mode, a control section (7), and a keyboard interface circuit (11) between the control section (7) and the main body section (10). A multi-item key input device comprising at least an interface circuit (9) for transmitting and receiving keyboard mode data between the devices.