JPH03156627A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the input job efficiency by providing a changeover switch for 1st/2nd modes and 1st and 2nd keys which input the different codes in accordance with modes. CONSTITUTION:A function equal to that secured with push of a key written on the key front when the key input is performed while pushing a 'symmetry' key 11. In other words, a 'Q' key 13 is pushed by the left fifth finger while pushing the key 11 with the left thumb in place of a 'P' key 12 pushed by the right fifth finger when a character code 'P' is inputted at the home position of the left hand. When the input is desired for the code of a capital 'J' via the left hand, an 'F' key 17 is pushed with the left forefinger while pushing a 'shift symmetry' key 16 with the left thumb in place of a 'J' key 15 pushed by the right forefinger while pushing a 'shift' key. Thus the input of characters are carried out in such a way that gives the least influence to the jobs under execution. Then the input job efficiency is improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field of the Invention 1 Related to a character input device that can input data efficiently by switching modes, etc. Conventional character input device 1 For example, uppercase and lowercase letters 1
One key is assigned to the same key, and the mode is switched using the Shift key to input different uppercase and lowercase codes. For example, the thumb shift method (Special Publication No. 62-37405
Although some mode switching methods have been devised, such as conventional keyboards (with the key layout as shown in Table 9), when you want to input a certain code, press the key that generates that code. This is done by pressing a key at the same time as the shift key to generate a different code.4
For example, when entering the code for the lowercase letter "aJ" (upper
To enter the capital letter "A" code by pressing only the "rA" key, press the "A" key while holding down the 1-shift key (rshift). Figure 1θ (friend) is a functional diagram of a normal character input device.The shift conversion device 33 switches codes by the combination of the character key and the shift key and generates the desired character code.Problems to be Solved by the Invention Technology is your best friend Usually, most codes can only be entered in a specific mode (9) Also, keys that allow you to enter the same code in any mode (usually located in the same position, therefore keys in different modes) Inputting a code required switching to normal mode.Also, most of the keys that generate a certain code were usually only in one place, making it inconvenient to operate keys that are far apart, such as when operating with one hand. For example, when performing processing using a mouse and keyboard at the same time, the mouse and keyboard must be handled separately, which is inconvenient.Means for solving the problem In a character input device having multiple keys for inputting characters and symbols, there is a switch for switching between a first mode and a second mode, and a first code in the first mode and a second code in the second mode. and a second key for inputting the second code in the first mode and the first code in the second mode. The character input device according to the invention according to claim 1, in which the first key and the second keeper are arranged in symmetrical positions, and the invention according to claim 3 ( A character input device having a plurality of keys for inputting characters and symbols, characterized by having a plurality of modes, a key for individually specifying each mode, and a key for specifying a combined mode of the modes. It is a character input device.

In addition, the invention according to claim 4 (i.e., multiple times within a specific period,
A character input device according to the invention according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that input in different modes is performed by operating the same key. The invention according to claim 6 also provides a character input device characterized in that by operating the same key for a long time, input in different modes is performed. Claim 1. According to the invention described in claim 1, the character input device according to the invention described in claim 2, 3.4, or 5 is provided with the above two functions, so that when a certain code input is desired, it can be specified in a specific mode. You can choose between several ways to press different keys in different modes, but you can select one of the different keys in multiple modes to affect the task you are currently performing as much as possible. According to the invention as claimed in claim 2, since the two keys are arranged in symmetrical positions, inputting can be performed more efficiently. Furthermore, according to the invention set forth in claim 3, when selecting a mode, the k mode selection can be performed with one key without having to operate several mode selection keys in combination. According to the invention of claim 5, by pressing the same key twice within a certain interval, it is possible to input a code in a mode different from the code generated by pressing only once. According to the invention described in claim 6, by continuing to operate the same key for longer than a fixed interval, it is possible to input a code different from the code generated by pressing the key briefly. By pressing harder, you can enter codes generated by pressing weaker, and codes in different modes can be input.A Figure 1 explains some examples with reference to the example diagrams. C
AL This is a diagram showing a character input device in an embodiment of the present invention.A By pressing the "symmetrical" key 11 in this diagram and inputting a key, the same function as pressing the key written on the front of the key can be obtained. In this example, even though the letters on the front of the keys are arranged symmetrically in the center of the keyboard, the key force is such that the combination of the letters on the top and the letters on the front are exactly reversed. They exist in symmetrical positions.For the convenience of users who touch blindly, the keys are not completely symmetrical, but are symmetrical based on the home position of each finger.However, keys such as special characters If the item does not fit in the symmetrical position (arrange it appropriately as shown in the table)
When you want to input pJ (Yo) Press the "P" key 1 with your right little finger.
Instead of pressing 2, it's your turn! "Symmetry" key 11 with left thumb
While pressing , press the "Q" key 13 with your left little finger (
℃ Also, when you want to input the code for the capital letter "J" with your left hand, press the "J" key 15 with your right index finger while holding down the rShif J key. E'Sh + ft symmetry"
While pressing key 16 with your left thumb, use your left index finger to
If you press the "F" key 17, you can enter all the keys with one hand while keeping your fingers in the home position, and the positions of the keys are symmetrical, so you can get used to blind touching. This is especially convenient for users who want to input because they can easily associate the position of the key they want to input, but as mentioned above, almost all keys can be input in different modes, and modes can be switched using only one key. It also allows you to input keys with just your left hand without sacrificing efficiency, making it convenient when using a pointing device such as a mouse with one hand, or when typing while turning the pages of a book with one hand. a
In addition, normally it can be used in exactly the same way as a conventional keyboard. You can input data with only six hands without significantly reducing input efficiency.There is always at least one mode selection key corresponding to each mode, so if the modes overlap, you can use two or more keys. There is no need to press the mode selection key (for example, if such a mode selection key is not available, press the uppercase "
When entering the code “S”, press the “Symmetry” key and rSh
You need to press the "L" key while holding down the "i f t" keys at the same time. It is useful as an input device for small word processors that can be operated with one hand.

Figure 3 (Friend) This is a diagram showing the configuration of the above two embodiments. Even if a ``symmetric'' transformation is added in addition to the normal transformation (shift transformation in this example),
It is possible to switch between the three modes of shift and symmetry with a single operation of the mode key. If a desired key is switched by the device 34 and the signal does not occur, it is also possible to create it in hardware by electrically switching the signal using the mode key as in the present invention, or by programming the code generated by the mode key. Although it is possible to realize this in software by processing the data in FIG. If the time interval is measured and the interval is less than a certain value, a shift conversion signal is output to the shift conversion device 33. An example in which the symmetry conversion device 34 is incorporated to perform the conversion can be realized in the same manner as the previous embodiment.
Here, the time interval between pressed keys is determined by the arithmetic processing unit, and if the same input code is obtained twice within a certain time interval T, it is regarded as a different code. In this example, if 1 is pressed only once within a certain time interval, the code for a lowercase letter "a" will only be generated, so it is determined that the code is for a lowercase letter "a". The same code occurs twice, so I decided to cancel the previous "a" code. It was determined that the uppercase "rA" code was entered, but Figure 7 ζ
If the same input code is obtained twice within a certain time interval T, it is assumed to be a different code.Even in the diagram showing the implementation method of the control section of the above embodiment, there is a time period during which the key is kept pressed. When a certain value T is exceeded, the control device outputs a mode change signal and in combination with that, generates another code.4 Figure 8 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment. When the key is pressed with more than a certain pressure, the control unit 53 outputs a mode change signal to the shift conversion device 33, which generates another code.As described above, the present invention provides the following effects. Obtainable.

According to the invention according to claim 1, by providing the two, when you want to input a certain code, there are several ways to press a specific key in a specific mode and press a different key in another mode. You can select from multiple keys, but you can select one of the different keys in multiple modes. a Also, according to the invention set forth in claim 2, since these two keys are arranged in symmetrical positions, even more efficient input work is possible; and according to the invention set forth in claim 3, the mode When making a selection, the L mode can be selected with one key instead of having to operate several mode selection keys in combination.

Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 4, by pressing the same key twice within a certain interval, it is possible to input a code in a mode different from the code generated by pressing only once. According to the invention set forth in claim 5, by continuing to operate the same key for longer than a certain interval, it is possible to input a code different from the code generated by pressing the key briefly. According to the invention, by pressing harder than a certain pressure, it is possible to input a code in a mode different from the code generated by pressing weaker than that, and in this way, the present invention ζ is efficient in a character input device. It is possible to realize a good input work, and its practical effect is 1.X.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 shows the keyboard configuration of a character input device in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the keyboard configuration of a character input device in another embodiment. Figure 6 shows an example of the hardware configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
The figure shows the keyboard of a conventional character input device.
The figure shows the configuration of a conventional character input device.
- "Symmetry" key, 16...r 5hift symmetry key, 18...r CTRLJ key, 31.51... General key, 33... Shift conversion device 34... Symmetry conversion device 41...・Timer, 52...pressure sensor.

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) In a character input device having multiple keys for inputting characters and symbols, a switch for switching between a first mode and a second mode;
at least a first key for inputting a second code in the first mode, a second key for inputting the second code in the first mode, and a second key for inputting the first code in the second mode. A character input device characterized by: (2) The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the first key and the second key are arranged at symmetrical positions. (3) A character input device having a plurality of keys for inputting characters and symbols, which has a plurality of modes, and includes a key for specifying each of the modes individually and a key for specifying a combined mode of the modes. A character input device characterized by: (4) The character input device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein input in different modes is performed by operating the same key multiple times within a specific period. (5) A character input device characterized in that input in different modes is performed by operating the same key for longer than a specific time interval. (6) By operating the key with more force than a certain pressure,
Claim 1 characterized in that input in different modes is performed.
, 2, 3, 4 or 5, the character input device.