JPH0331921A - Data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dispense with the re-load of a program and the re-execution of processing accompanying a re-rise after a keyboard switching, and to reduce labor and a time by switching the keyboard while a data processor is operated. CONSTITUTION:A advance noticing switch 14 for exchange is switched by a manual operation before the exchange of the keyboard in the middle of operation. An interface part 15 stops a feed to a keyboard 20 by the switching of the switch 14 and, simultaneously, makes all signal lines between the keyboard 20 and it into a non-connected condition. On the other hand, when a main controller 11 identifies the fact that the switch 14 is opened when the transfer of the unit identification code in a prescribed period from the keyboard 20 is stopped, the fact that a trouble is generated to the keyboard 20 to be connected is decided, and an input processing is stopped. Thus, the re-load of the program and the re-execution of the processing accompanying the re-rise after the keyboard 20 is switched can be made unnecessary, and the labor and time can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a data processing device used as a terminal device of a computer system.

(Prior Art) A keyboard for inputting data to be transferred to a higher-level device such as a host computer is connected to a data processing device used as a terminal device of a computer system.

A typical terminal device has a function of identifying the type of keyboard and whether it is operating normally by receiving a unit identification code transmitted from the keyboard at a predetermined period during operation. If the transfer of the unit identification code from the keyboard is interrupted during operation, this terminal device determines that a failure has occurred in the connected keyboard and stops input processing. In this case, the user
The power to the terminal device is turned off to temporarily stop its operation, the keyboard is replaced with a normal keyboard, and then the power is turned back on to restart the device. The activated terminal device starts supplying power to the keyboard and sends a keyboard reset signal to the connected keyboard to instruct transition to the initial state.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional terminal device described above, when the transfer of the unit identification code from the connected keyboard is interrupted, it is determined that the keyboard is malfunctioning and input processing is stopped.

Therefore, even if you try to replace the keyboard during operation regardless of the occurrence of a malfunction, the keyboard will be determined to be malfunctioning due to the loss of the unit identification code, making it impossible to replace the keyboard while the terminal device is in operation. .

As a result, it is necessary to stop and restart the operation of the terminal device, and the operations for reloading the program and restarting input/output processing have to be performed again, which takes effort and time. Means for Solving the Problems) The data processing device according to the present invention includes a replacement notice switch that can be switched manually prior to replacing the keyboard during operation, and a switch that stops power supply to the keyboard by switching the replacement notice switch. and an interface unit that disconnects the signal line between the keyboard and the keyboard, and if the periodic transmission of the unit identification code from the keyboard has stopped and the replacement notice switch is being switched, the keyboard is being replaced. and a control unit that determines that the keyboard replacement has been completed and sends a reset signal to the keyboard when the switching state of the switch is restored after determining that the keyboard is replaced and enters a waiting state for the completion of the replacement, The keyboard is configured to be replaceable while the data processing device is in operation.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be explained in detail together with examples.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with the relationship with a keyboard.
is a terminal device, and 20 is a keyboard.

This terminal device 10 includes, in addition to a main controller 11, a keyboard controller 12, and a connector 13, a replacement notice switch 14 that can be switched manually and an interface section 15.

When this terminal device is powered on, its internal device is reset and a program is loaded from an external storage device (not shown) to the main controller 11. Subsequently, supply of operating power to the keyboard 20 via the power supply line 101 and the switch 15a is started, and thereafter, a keyboard reset signal is sent via the signal line 102 and the buffer 15b. The keyboard 20 that receives power supply and a reset signal from the terminal device 10 resets itself, and thereafter starts sending out unit identification codes at a predetermined cycle. This unique/) identification code is transferred as serial data to the keyboard controller 12 via the connector 13, buffer 15d and reception data line 104, where it is converted to parallel data and then transferred to the data bus 16.
The data is transferred to the main controller 11 via. The main controller 11 identifies the type of the connected keyboard from the unit identification code transferred from the keyboard at a predetermined period, determines that this keyboard is operating normally, and enters a waiting state for input data from the keyboard. continue.

The key code input from the keyboard 20 is transferred as serial data to the keyboard controller 12 via the connector 13, buffer 15d and reception data line 104, where it is converted to parallel data and then transferred to the data bus 1.
6 to the main controller 11. The main controller 11 edits the input data using the received key code combination, and transfers the input data to a higher-level device such as a host computer by executing a command specified by the key code combination. Status information that displays the status of the keyboard during operation is stored in the connector 13 and the buffer 15e"1.
5f and control signal lines 105 to 106 to the keyboard controller 12, and then to the main controller 11 via the data bus 16 and control bus 17.

The main controller 11 inspects the status information of the keyboard 20 and outputs commands to the keyboard 20 onto the data bus 16 as necessary. This command is converted into serial data by the keyboard controller 12 and then transferred to the keyboard 20 via the control signal line 103 and buffer 15C.

During the above-described normal operation, the manually operated replacement notice switch 14 is opened, and a high level signal is supplied to the switch 15a and the buffers 15b to 15f in the interface section 15. Accordingly, the switch 15a is closed to continue supplying power to the keyboard 20, and the buffers 15b to 15'' maintain the input data passing state.

When the above-mentioned normal operation is interrupted and keyboard replacement is started, first, the replacement advance notice switch 14 is closed by manual operation. Accordingly, a low level signal is supplied to the switch 15a and the buffers 15b to 15f in the interface section 15. As a result, the switch 15a is opened and the power supply to the keyboard 20 is stopped.
All of the buffers 15b-15f shift to a high impedance state, preventing data from passing through, and are electrically disconnected from the keyboard.

Furthermore, the low signal accompanying the switching of the replacement notice switch 14 is transferred to the keyboard controller 12 via the signal line 107, and from there to the main controller 11 via a predetermined control signal line that constitutes the control bus 17. Ru.

With the switching of the replacement notice switch 14, the transfer of the unit identification code from the keyboard 20 at a predetermined period is stopped. Main controller 1 that detected this transfer stop
1 is a predetermined control of the control bus 17? When it is determined by checking the 11 signal line that the replacement notice switch 14 is being closed, it is determined that the keyboard is being replaced, and the keyboard shifts to a waiting state for the replacement work to be completed. That is, the main controller 11 starts a timer that generates an interrupt at a predetermined period, and each time the main controller 11 receives this interrupt, it checks the open/close state of the replacement notice switch 14 via a predetermined control signal line in the control bus 17. do.

When the keyboard replacement is completed, the replacement notice switch 14 is manually opened to notify the user of the replacement.

Along with this, the switch 15a of the interface section 15
is closed and power supply to the connected keyboard is started, and at the same time, the buffers 15a to 15f are made conductive and the signal line is connected to the keyboard. The main controller 11 detects the restoration of the replacement notice switch 14 via a predetermined signal line in the control bus 17, and outputs a control signal to another control signal line in the control bus 17. The keyboard controller 17 receiving this control signal outputs a keyboard reset command onto the signal line 102 to reset the replaced keyboard.

The keyboard 20 receives power supply and reset from the terminal device 10, starts operating, and starts sending out the Uni-Node identification code at a predetermined period. Upon receiving this unit identification code, the main controller in the terminal device 10 identifies the type of the newly connected keyboard, determines that the keyboard is operating normally, and enters a waiting state for input data from this keyboard. Transition.

On the other hand, if the main controller 11 identifies that the replacement notification switch 14 is being opened when the transfer of unit-specific codes from the keyboard at a predetermined cycle stops during operation, a failure occurs in the connected keyboard. It is determined that this has been done and input processing is stopped.

The present invention has been described above in the case where the data processing device to which the keyboard is connected is a terminal device such as a host computer. However, it is clear that the present invention is also applicable to independent data processing devices such as personal computers and word processors that do not have host devices.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the data processing device according to the present invention has the above-described structure, the keyboard can be replaced even during operation.

As a result, there is no need to reload the program and redo the processing associated with restarting the keyboard after replacing the keyboard, which was required in the conventional device, resulting in a significant reduction in labor and time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, taking the case of a terminal device as an example. 10...Terminal device as an example of a data processing device, 1
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Main controller, 12... Keyboard controller, 13... Connector, 14... Replacement notice switch that can be switched manually prior to keyboard replacement, 15... Interface unit, 15a... Switches 15b to 15f that stop power supply to the keyboard during keyboard replacement...Buffers that cut off the electrical connection between the signal line and the board during keyboard replacement. -Keyboard.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A replacement notice switch that can be switched manually prior to replacing the keyboard during operation, and switching of the replacement notice switch stops power supply to the keyboard and disconnects all signal lines between the keyboard and the keyboard. If the interface section to be disconnected and the periodic transmission of the unit identification code from the keyboard are stopped and the replacement notice switch is being switched, it is determined that the keyboard is being replaced and the end of the replacement is determined. If the switching state of the replacement notice switch is restored after entering the waiting state, it is determined that the keyboard replacement has been completed, and a reset signal is sent to the keyboard, and a unit identification code is periodically sent from the keyboard. A data processing device comprising: a control section that determines that the keyboard has failed if the replacement notice switch is not being switched when the keyboard has stopped.