JPH03219322A - Key entry device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of key touches and to attain smooth key entry by adding temporary shift switching keys to a conversional keyboard. CONSTITUTION:The keyboard 1 inputs key data by the depression of the temporary shift switching key, an output means 8 outputs character data and data conversion tables 3 to 6 convert they key data into character data correspondingly to respective shift states of alphabets, alphaneumerics, 'KANA' (Japanese syllabary), and 'KANA' codes. A temporary shift switching circuit 2 switches connection between the keyboard 1 and the inputs of the tables 3 to 6 so that an optional shift state can be temporarily switched to a required one when the temporary shift switching key is depressed and a temporary output switching circuit 7 switches connection between the outputs of the tables 3 to 6 and an output means 8 so that the output state is matched with the shift state while interlocking with the circuit 2. Consequently, the number of key touches can be reduced and smooth key entry can be attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a key input device for inputting key data and outputting character data, and particularly to a key input device having a shift switching mechanism.

[Conventional technology]

In key input devices for personal computers and word processors, data is input by pressing keys (key data input) from the keyboard.

When inputting key data like this, it is normal to press one key to input four types (alphabetic characters, English symbols, kana, and kana symbols).
It is now possible to input character data (type). Here, in order to decide which type of character data to input, the user (the operator of the key input device) is in a shift state (a shift state for specifying one of the four types of character data described above). must be selected.

Conventionally, such shift state selection and determination is performed by the second
As shown in the figure, the [alphanumeric] keys and [
Keys such as the ``Kana'' key are used to continuously change the shift state, and keys such as the rsHFT (SHl/FT, Shift) key are pressed at the same time as data keys to change the shift state temporarily from a specific shift state. The switching was done using a key.

In this case, if you want to input alphabetic characters or alphanumeric character data in the shifted state of kana or kana symbols, you need to switch to the shifted state of alphabetic characters using the "alphanumeric" key. If you wanted to input character data with or kana symbols, it was necessary to switch to the kana shift state using the "kana" key.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The conventional key input bag mentioned above! Now, if you want to input character data of alphabetic characters or alphabetic symbols in the shifted state of kana or kana symbols, you need to switch the shift state using the "alphanumeric" key. If you want to input character data, you need to switch the shift state using the "kana" key, which has the drawback of increasing the number of key touches and hindering smooth key input (key data input).

For example, when entering a sentence such as "Kare (Taro) ha...", if you enter "(" or ")" (these correspond to the character data of English symbols on the keyboard in Figure 2). After pressing the "alphanumeric" key in the kana shift state, press the rsHFTJ key and the data key ("(" or ")" at the same time.
'' key) (at this point it is in the alphabetic symbol shift state), and then the ``kana'' key must be pressed to return to the kana shift state, which requires many key touches.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to add to a keyboard a key (temporary shift switching key) for temporarily switching the shift state from any shift state (without being affected by the current shift state). To provide a key input device that can temporarily switch the shift state from any shift state to a desired one and perform key input, reduce the number of key touches, and perform smooth key input. It is in.

- [Means for Solving the Problems] A key input device of the present invention includes a keyboard having a temporary shift switching key for inputting key data, an output means for outputting character data, and alphabetic characters and alphabetic symbols.

A data conversion table that converts key data into character data corresponding to each shift state of kana and kana symbols, and a shift state that can be temporarily changed from any shift state based on pressing of a temporary shift switching key on the keyboard. a temporary shift switching circuit for switching the connection between the keyboard and the input of the data conversion table to switch to a desired one; and a temporary output switching circuit for switching the connection between the output of the table and the output means.

[Effect]

In the key input device of the present invention, the keyboard has a temporary shift switching key for inputting key data, the output means outputs character data, and the data conversion table has a shift key for alphabetical characters, English symbols, kana, and kana symbols. The key data is converted into character data in accordance with the state, and the temporary shift switching circuit temporarily switches the shift state from an arbitrary shift state to a desired one based on the press of a temporary shift switching key on the keyboard. to switch the connection between the keyboard and the input of the data conversion table, and the temporary output switching circuit works with the temporary shift switching circuit to switch the connection between the output of the data conversion table and the output means to match the shift condition. Switch connections.

〔Example〕 Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

The first part is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the key input device of the present invention. The key input device of this embodiment includes a keyboard 1 for inputting key data, a first shift switching circuit 2 (temporary shift switching circuit), and a keyboard 1 for inputting key data, a first shift switching circuit 2 (temporary shift switching circuit), and a keyboard 1 for inputting key data. a first data conversion table 3 for converting key data into character data of alphabet symbols, a second data conversion table 4 for converting key data into character data of alphabet symbols corresponding to the shift state of alphabet characters, A third data conversion table 5 for correspondingly converting key data into kana character data, and fourth data for converting key data into kana symbol character data corresponding to the shift state of kana symbols. Conversion table 6 and (
When the tables 3 to 6 are collectively shown, they are referred to as "data conversion tables"), the first output switching circuit 7 (
a temporary output switching circuit), an output means 8 for outputting character data, and continuous shift switching (shift switching refers to switching of the connection between the keyboard 1 and the input of the data conversion table). First shift switching circuit 9
, a third shift switching circuit 10 that performs temporary shift switching for switching from an alphabetic character shift state to an alphabetic symbol shift state; A fourth shift switching circuit 11 performs shift switching, and a second shift switching circuit 9 operates to switch the output sequentially to the fourth shift switching circuit 9. a second output switching circuit 12 that performs temporary output switching in conjunction with the third shift switching circuit 10; (Components 3 to 6 and 8 to 14 are conventional key input devices). ).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the arrangement of keys on the keyboard 1. The keyboard 1 includes a temporary shift switching key 15 for temporarily switching from one shift state to another in addition to the keys on a conventional keyboard (see FIG. 2).
("Up", "Down", "Left", and "Right" keys in FIG. 2) are added.

Next, the operation of the key input device of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

On the keyboard 1, when the data key and any of the "up", "down", "left", and "right" keys among the temporary shift switching keys 15 are pressed at the same time, the temporary shift switching keys 15 are pressed simultaneously. "Top", "Bottom", "Left" and "Right"
Keyboard 1 and first data conversion table 3. Second data conversion table 4. Temporary shift switching is performed by the first shift switching circuit 2 so that the input of either the third data conversion table 5 or the fourth data conversion table 6 is connected.

Also, in conjunction with the first shift switching circuit 2 (shift switching by the first shift switching circuit 2), the first data conversion table 3. Second data conversion table 4
．． Temporary output switching is performed by the first output switching circuit 7 so that the output of either the third data conversion table 5 or the fourth data conversion table 6 is connected to the output means 8.

In the connection m (connection of the circuit from the keyboard 1 to the output means 8) formed in this way, the first data conversion table 3. Second data conversion table 4. The key data sent to the third data conversion table 5 or the fourth data conversion table 6 is converted into character data of alphabetic characters, English symbols, kana or kana symbols, and the temporary shift switching key 1
The output means 8 outputs character data that matches the shift state according to the instruction by pressing 5.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention adds a temporary shift changeover key to a conventional keyboard, so that by pressing the temporary shift changeover key and the data key at the same time, a desired shift can be temporarily performed from any shift I state. Key input can be performed by switching to the shift state, which has the effect of reducing the number of key touches and enabling smooth key input.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a keyboard in a conventional key input device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the keyboard in FIG. (Keyboard with a temporary shift switch key added to the keyboard)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the arrangement of keys in FIG. In the figure, 1... Keyboard, 2... First shift switching circuit, 3... First data conversion table, 4... Second data conversion table, 5... Third data. Conversion table, 6... Fourth data conversion table, 7... First output switching circuit, 8... Output means, 9... Second shift switching circuit, 10... Third shift. Switching circuit, 11... Fourth shift switching circuit, 12... Second output switching circuit, 13... Third output switching circuit, 14... Fourth output switching circuit, 15... Temporary shift switching. This is the key.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A keyboard having a temporary shift switching key for inputting key data; an output means for outputting character data; a data conversion table for converting data into character data; and the keyboard and the data conversion table for temporarily switching the shift state from an arbitrary shift state to a desired one based on pressing of a temporary shift switching key on the keyboard. a temporary shift switching circuit for switching the connection between the input of the data conversion table and the output means; and a temporary shift switching circuit for switching the connection between the output of the data conversion table and the output means in conjunction with the temporary shift switching circuit to match the shift state. A key input device comprising: a temporary output switching circuit for switching.