JPH03278216A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the management effect of plural key labels by providing the keyboard with a function key display part, a display part driving circuit, a device for storing character strings, and a character generator for storing character/code patterns. CONSTITUTION:When a set key 7 is depressed, the function key display part 1 is turned to a waiting state for the setting and selection of a character string to be displayed. When a character string setting number is keyed from a keyboard input part 2, a character string corresponding to the function key function of the setting number is inputted to the display part driving circuit 4 and a pattern from the character generator 5 is displayed on the display part 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a keyboard, and particularly to a keyboard that is improved so that functions of function keys can be displayed.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the function display of the function key on a keyboard was
Key labels printed or filled in by the user are attached to designated positions on the keyboard or replaced depending on the program used.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As mentioned above, in conventional keyboards, key labels printed according to the program or key labels filled in by the user are attached to specified positions on the top surface of the keyboard according to the program used. However, it is necessary to prepare key labels according to the programs used, and it is difficult to manage the number of key labels that increase as the number of programs increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard that improves the efficiency of managing a plurality of key labels.

[Failure to solve the problem]

The keyboard of the present invention includes a function key display section that displays the functions of the function keys.

a display drive circuit that drives and controls the display of the function key display; a storage device that stores a character string in which characters to be displayed on the function key display are set;
and a character generator storing character/symbol patterns for displaying each character of the character string read from the storage device.

[Effect]

A function of a function key set in a storage device is selected and displayed on a function key display section to inform a user of the meaning of the function key.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram mainly showing a circuit portion that displays the functions of function keys, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a function key display section that displays the function of the function key 3, 4 is a display drive circuit that drives and controls the display of the function key display section 1, and 5 is a function key display section l. letter,
6 is a storage device that stores character strings corresponding to character string set numbers; 7 is a set key; 8 is an initial generator for initializing the display of the function key display section 1; is the conversion key. Note that 2 is a keyboard input section.

Next, the operation of one embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be explained.

When the set key 7 is pressed, the function key display section 1 waits for selection of a character string set to be displayed. and,
When a character string set number is entered manually from the keyboard input section 2, the character string corresponding to the function key function of that set number is read from the storage device 6 into the display section drive circuit 4, and thereby the character generator ROM 5
The pattern from is displayed on the function key display section 1. The user can be informed of the meaning of the function key by looking at this display.

In the explanation of the operation of the embodiment described above, the case where the character string of the function key function corresponding to the character string set number has already been stored and stored in the storage device 6 has been explained.
To input a character string corresponding to the function key function stored in the storage device 6, initialize the storage device 6 with the initialization key 8, and input the character string corresponding to the function key function from the keyboard input section 2. Then, it can be incorporated into the storage device 6 by inputting the character string set number and then pressing the set key 7.

As another example, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to feed it directly. In this case, the user does not need to select the display content from the storage device 6 by himself. Furthermore, it is possible to display messages, etc. without being limited to displaying function key functions, and is highly versatile.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the keyboard of the present invention has a function key display section that displays function key functions, a display section drive circuit that drives and controls the display of the function key display section, and a pattern of characters and symbols that is stored. Since it is equipped with a character generator that stores character strings containing characters to be displayed, there is no need to own key labels depending on the program, and even if the number of programs increases, multiple This has the excellent effect of eliminating the need to manage key labels.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a main configuration block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
This figure is a plan view of a keyboard according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the main components of another embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Function key display part, 2...Keyboard input part, 3...Function key 4...Display part drive circuit, 5...Character generator, 6...Storage device, 7... Set key 8...Initialization key Patent applicant NEC Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] A function key display section that displays the function of the function key, a display section drive circuit that drives and controls the display of the function key display section, and a storage device that stores and stores character strings in which characters to be displayed on the function key display section are set. and a character generator storing character/symbol patterns for displaying each character of the character string read from the storage device.
A keyboard that can display function key functions.